<img class = "media__image media_image – responsive" alt = "Emergency workers patrol Friday near a place where the duck sank at Table Rock Lake.The authorities received the first call about sinking at 19:09, Rader said.
Damage was reported in Stone County, including trees and structural damage, said CNN meteorologist Taylor Ward.The storm was part of same upper meteorological system that spawned destructive tornadoes on Thursday in Iowa, the northern neighbor of Missouri.
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Pattison said that he believed it was calm when the duck went into the water.
"Coming back, that's when … the waves rose and obviously submerged the boat," he said Friday morning [19659002]
The crew and passengers of the Showboat scramble to help
[19659002] The passengers of Branson Belle, Trent Behr and his girlfriend, Allison Lester, describe what they saw Friday on ABC. America "
Lester said the weather was nice on Thursday, but as Behr and she boarded the boat," the wind really got worse and debris was flying everywhere, "she said.
While they were visiting the diner, the couple looked out the window and saw the canoes in the water.
"It was maybe two minutes later , and we heard the captain say that the boat rolled over or the boat sank, "said Behr.
Behr said that at one point he and other passengers on the boat- restaurant helped pull a woman unconscious of water. "Another witness, Tony Burkhart, told CNN that he had planned to board the beautiful Branson, but he decided not to do it when the winds have risen "
." He saw the crew of the Belle Branson rush to collect all the lifejackets on board and the s throw at those who were in the water after the duck's capsize, "Burkhart said.
"It Should Never End That Way"
Ripley Entertainment has recently acquired the company of boats . The boat had a captain and a driver with a commercial license, he said.
"Obviously, we should not be out there in bad weather," said Pattison. The company has been in operation for 47 years without any incident like this, he said.
When asked if passengers and two crew members had time to put on lifejackets, Pattison replied, "We do not know yet."
" People are supposed to go out for an outing "It should never end like this – we can not say much more," he said when asked if he had a message for the parents of those who were on board
. land and water, and are popular among tourists in major cities. The history of the boats goes back to the Second World War, when these boats were a common sight because of their versatility.
The driver was "the most calm mind we could meet"
Williams, the driver, was a caring man who was friendly to everyone, said his widow to CNN
He has done a great deal on many lives and he has given up his life for someone, "she said Friday in a moving telephone interview. "It's the kind of man Robert was,"
His grandson, Victor Richardson, told CNN: "He was a God-fearing man, he was very humble, it was the most calm mind you could meet. 19659002] Bob and Judy Williams were married for more than 30 years and lived in Branson, according to the grandson.
Our hearts are broken & # 39;
Ride the Branson Ducks said that he was deeply saddened and that the business would be closed "while we support the investigation, and let the time to cry for families and the community. "
"Words can not tell how much our hearts are breaking," website. We will continue to do everything possible to help the families who have been involved and the authorities in their pursuit of search and rescue.
Parson, the governor, asked for prayers for first responders and for those involved in the incident
The NTSB, on Twitter, asked the public for help with photos or videos. videos of the sinking.
Branson, a popular destination for family vacations, is located about 200 miles southeast of Kansas City, Missouri.
CNN's Dakin Andone, Amanda Watts, Joe Sutton, Gianluca Mezzofiore, Deanna Hackney, Steve Almasy, and Sheena Jones contributed to this report.
