State regulators weighing limited operations for 'Ride the Ducks' in Seattle

OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) — Regulators in Washington state are considering whether a Seattle tour company can resume operating a limited fleet of amphibious vehicles under certain conditions after a deadly crash in September.

The state Utilities and Transportation Commission and an administrative law judge are holding a hearing Monday to consider a staff recommendation that would allow the company to resume limited operations.

Five international college students were killed Sept. 24 when a repurposed military "duck boat" swerved into an oncoming charter bus on Seattle's Aurora Bridge.

Commission staff found 442 violations and recommended penalties against Ride the Ducks Seattle, but those won't be considered until a later hearing.





Regulators also proposed issuing an "unsatisfactory" safety rating, based on one "acute" and six "critical" violations, as well as two accidents in 2015.

The three-member commission is expected to vote Monday on whether operations can resume.