Boston Duck Boat Overturns on Charles River Ramp, 11 Injured After Tow Rope Snaps

At roughly 3 p.m. on Saturday, June 27, a duck boat operated by Boston Duck Tours overturned at the Lynch Family Skate Park boat ramp at 10 Museum Way in Cambridge, where the ramp meets the entrance to the Charles River.

The boat had broken down while still in the water, according to WBZ-TV reporter Penny Kmitt, who was aboard a second duck boat sent to assist. That second vessel began towing the disabled boat out of the river. As it climbed the ramp, the tow rope snapped. The boat rolled backward and then tipped sideways, scraping against rocks on both sides of the ramp before coming to rest on its side.

There were 32 people aboard at the time, according to Cambridge Police.

The Injuries

Boston EMS confirmed 11 people were transported to area hospitals. One person sustained serious injuries. Cambridge Police told reporters that two injuries were classified as "more serious," with the remainder considered minor.

All 32 passengers were accounted for, Cambridge fire officials confirmed. None ended up in the water.

Witness Gwyn Svec, visiting from Ohio, was at the skate park above the ramp and described the moment of impact to CBS Boston: "No seat belts on that thing, so everyone kind of tumbled onto each other." Svec added that the boat struck rocks on both sides of the ramp before flipping, and that an eerie silence fell over the scene immediately after. "It was creepy, eerie, scary. Our boat driver rushed off the boat to help them."

Witness Kiana Morris, quoted by both CBS Boston and Boston 25 News, described the noise: "It was like boom scraping when it flipped over it scraped. It was really loud." Morris said she saw two people removed on stretchers and at least one passenger covered in blood.

The Company's Response

Tom Vigna of Boston Duck Tours issued a statement, quoted by Boston 25 News: "As a precaution, we have suspended operations for the remainder of the day. We are working with Massachusetts State Police and the U.S. Coast Guard to review the incident."

The company confirmed to Fox News Digital that the vehicle rolled onto its side during the tow when the rope broke.

Massachusetts State Police led the scene response, alongside Cambridge Police and Fire. The State Police Marine Unit also responded. Because the incident occurred at the river entrance, State Police will lead the investigation, with the U.S. Coast Guard participating in the review.

After the scene was secured, a tow truck company attached cables to the duck boat, righted it, and hauled it away, according to Boston 25 News.

The Strongest Safety Concern

Former duck boat driver Peggy Lecce, who spent years as a captain for the company and was present at the scene Saturday, told Boston 25 News she was "in shock" at the damage. She explained that the standard towing procedure involves throwing lines to the side of the disabled vessel, attaching them, and having one duck drive the other out, using what she called "a thick rope called the tow line."

Her account raises questions about whether the towing procedure was followed correctly, whether the equipment was in proper condition, or whether 32 passengers should have remained aboard during the tow. Those are exactly the questions the State Police and Coast Guard investigation will need to answer.

Boston Duck Tours has operated for over 30 years using replica WWII amphibious vehicles. The company's fleet has a long public profile, including carrying championship parade crowds for the New England Patriots six times, the Boston Red Sox four times, the Boston Celtics twice, and the Boston Bruins in 2011. That history does not settle the question of whether Saturday's equipment failure was isolated or indicative of a broader maintenance issue.

Fox News Digital and the WFMD wire report cited at least six injuries and described two as "more serious." CBS Boston and Boston 25 News both reported the higher, confirmed figure of 11 people transported to hospitals. The discrepancy likely reflects early versus updated reporting. The 11-person figure, attributed to Boston EMS and Cambridge Police, is the more complete count as of the time of their reports Saturday afternoon.

What Comes Next

The investigation remains open and ongoing. The central question investigators will need to resolve: whether the tow rope failure was the result of equipment that was worn, improperly rated for the load, or otherwise compromised, and whether 32 passengers should have been offloaded before the tow attempt began.