The U.S. Coast Guard has found probable cause that the sinking of a tourist boat on a Missouri lake last month that killed 17 people “resulted from the misconduct, negligence, or inattention to the duties” by the captain of the boat, according to a court motion filed Wednesday by federal prosecutors.
The U.S. attorney’s office also said in the motion that the captain of a second duck boat that made it safely to shore when the storm kicked up on Table Rock Lake near Branson on July 19 acted in a “grossly negligent manner.” The filing doesn’t elaborate on those findings.
In the motion, prosecutors asked Kansas City federal court to issue an order that would delay attorneys involved in lawsuits related to the sinking from sharing information and evidence they gathered until the criminal investigation is complete.
