Local

Man injured in Ride the Ducks crash files lawsuit

SEATTLE — A man injured by a local Ride the Ducks vehicle has filed a lawsuit against the company.

DUKWs, or duck boats, were a World War II amphibious landing craft developed by the Army.  They are now used as tourist vehicles.

Police said 28-year-old Austin Porter was on his motorcycle at a stoplight on Pike Street in October.  When the light turned green, a duck vehicle behind him accelerated, hit the motorcycle and dragged it and Porter underneath it for several yards, officers said.

Porter was seriously injured in the crash and sustained injuries to his arm, leg and pelvis.

"It's clear that Ride the Ducks present a risk to passengers and the public when operators are distracted with entertaining tourist passengers rather than focused on driving these vehicles safely," said Porter at a Wednesday news conference.  "I am lucky to be alive.

Video footage of the crash will not be released by the Seattle Police Department until their investigation is complete.

The amount of the lawsuit was not disclosed.

In Philadelphia, a barge ran over an idle Ride the Ducks vehicle, killing two people.