The driver of the duck boat that collided with a motorized scooter on Saturday, killing the woman who was driving it, had a lengthy driving record featuring numerous violations, according to information provided by the Registry of Motor Vehicles.
The driving record includes 10 speeding violations, one accident, and several more minor violations over a 22-year period. In all, 38 incidents are listed dating back to 1994.
The driver, identified as Victor Tavares by the RMV, has had his license revoked indefinitely, which the DOT said is standard operating procedure for a fatal accident. Tavares did have a valid license to operate the duck boat at the time of the accident.
In a statement, Boston Duck Tours says the company regularly obtains information from the RMV regarding drivers, including when they're hired, and say his most recent driving record check was in March.
"Given the discrepancies between the information we received from the DMV and the information reported, we will be contacting the respective agencies... and we will provide any updated information," the statement read.
Allison Warmuth, 28, was killed when the motorized scooter she was driving collided with a Boston Duck Tours vehicle Saturday on Beacon Hill. A male passenger on the scooter suffered minor injuries. No one on the tour was hurt.
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Boston Duck Tours issued a statement Monday defending the company's safety record in the wake of calls from some corners to ban duck boats from city streets altogether.
"For 22 years, the people of Boston have accepted Boston Duck Tours as part of the community. We value this unique relationship and take safety very seriously," Boston Duck Tours CEO Cindy Brown said.
Brown said Boston Duck Tours have carried more than 10 million guests since 1994, and its drivers go through a "rigorous" 8 to 10 week training period focusing on the operation of the vehicles and safety procedures. All drivers are also subject to random drug testing.
She said all drivers must hold a Class B Commercial Driver's License, a Boston Police Hackney Sightseeing License, a Cambridge Jitney License, a United States Coast Guard License and must be trained in first aid and CPR.
All duck boats are inspected annually by the Coast Guard and the Department of Public Utilities and daily by Boston Duck Tours mechanics.
"Safety has always been our number one priority," Brown said.
In the last five years, there have been several deadly duck boat accidents across the country, but this is a first for the Boston company that started tours in the city.
Saturday's accident remains under investigation by police, but so far no charges have been brought against the tour driver.
Philadelphia attorney Robert Mongeluzzi said the accident could have been avoided and he's asking that duck boats be banned across the country.
"This proves again that duck boats are dangerous on land and on water," he said.
Mongeluzzi represented the families of victims in two deadly accidents in Philadelphia.
In 2010, two tourists drowned after a disabled "Ride the Ducks" boat was run down by a barge. Last year, a woman from Texas was hit and killed by also by a "Ride the Ducks" boat while crossing a street in Philadelphia.
Boston Mayor Marty Walsh is also speaking out as police continue to investigate the tragic accident.
"I think that this is still under investigation this case, we'll see what happens and if an action has to be taken we'll take an action," Walsh said.
Walsh said while some may question why World War II-era amphibious vehicles make sense in a city with tight, busy streets and older infrastructure like Boston, he said there are 18 wheelers in the city every day.
"We know we don't have a big city, we have a small city with small roads, so we ask people to be very careful," he said.
But as to whether it makes sense to have the duck tour drivers both giving the tour and driving the vehicle, Walsh wasn't ready to say whether that could have played a role in this accident.
"This case hasn't been fully vetted through yet, so until I see a final report of what exactly happened here, then I'll be able to make more comment on it," he said.
The Coast Guard says it last inspected the Duck Boat involved in the fatal accident on March 17, 2015. It passed inspection at that time.
