LanhamвЂ™s attorney, Tom Bath, told the Kansas City Star, вЂњAlthough this was a tragedy, we do not believe that any of those charged committed any criminal conduct and intend to fight the matter in both state and federal court.вЂќ We have and will continue to offer support for our current and former employees as this process moves forward.вЂќД¬NN has contacted Lanham and BaltzellвЂ™s attorneys but did not immediately hear back. While the Stone County Prosecutor has brought criminal charges as a result of the accident, all persons charged are entitled to a strong presumption of innocence until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

Suzanne Smagala-Potts, a spokesperson for Ripley Entertainment which owned вЂњRide the Ducks Branson,вЂќ told CNN, вЂњWe continue to cooperate with all investigations into the sudden and severe storm known as a derecho that struck Table Rock Lake in July of 2018, resulting in a tragic accident. These actions had a contributing factor in the incident and subsequent fatalities,вЂќ according to the probable cause statement. Lanham, вЂњwas responsible for the overall day to day management of operationsвЂќ and he вЂњfailed to cease operation of the Ride the Ducks as severe weather approached, which included lightning, heavy rain and high winds. He did not follow policy or training guidelines in that he failed to have passengers don personal floatation devices as Stretch Duck 7 took on water,вЂќ the probable cause statement says.Д«altzellвЂ™s вЂњduties included monitoring weather and communicating with the Duck vehicles about impending weatherвЂќ and he вЂњfailed in these duties on the date of the incident, which had a contributing factor in the incident and subsequent fatalities,вЂќ the probable cause statement says. вЂњCaptain McKee failed to exercise his duties and responsibilities as a licensed Captain, by entering the lake during a severe thunderstorm warning. вЂњMcKee drove the Duck into the windвЂќ and the duck boat вЂњgradually took on water, over the course of several minutes, and finally swamped behind the Branson Belle, where it sunk in approximately 50 feet of water, stern first, to the bottom of the lake,вЂќ the probable cause statement says. NTSB report: Captain of duck boat said he checked weather radar before departingДЄccording to the probable cause statement, an вЂњinvestigation later determinedвЂќ the duck boat вЂњentered Table Rock Lake as part of their Ride the Ducks tourвЂ¦during a severe thunderstorm warning.вЂќ вЂњWe are reviewing the charges, anticipate not guilty pleas will be entered, and will continue to vigorously represent Mr.

McKeeвЂ™s attorneys told CNN that they expect their client will enter not guilty pleas to the 29 charges. Seventeen people, including children, died after the boat capsized during a severe thunderstorm. The charges stem from the fatal sinking of a duck boat - an amphibious vehicle that travels on land and water - at Table Rock Lake near Branson, a popular family vacation spot. Kenneth Scott McKee, who captained the boat and was employed by the now defunct company вЂњRide the Ducks Branson,вЂќ was charged with 29 felony counts, including 17 counts of first-degree involuntary manslaughter, according to a criminal complaint.Д¬harles Baltzell, who worked as the companyвЂ™s operations supervisor, was charged with 17 counts of first-degree involuntary manslaughter, the complaint shows.Д¬urtis Lanham, who was employed as a general manager, was charged in the complaint with 17 counts of first-degree involuntary manslaughter.

Yeah duck that time sink