Ceremony Held to Mourn Victims of Boat Tragedy

by KYW's Kim Glovas

A memorial service was held Saturday at the Independence Seaport Museum Auditorium for the two victims who died in the Duck Boat accident on Wednesday.

The two victims were pulled from the Delaware River on Friday. Sixteen-year-old Dora Schwendter and 20-year-old Sahb-olch Prem were both members of a visiting Hungarian student group. Autopsies showed both died from drowning.

Mayor Michael Nutter delivered remarks to the assembled families and friend of the victims. The memorial service was closed to the public.

The teenage girl and young man were the only ones that did not survive the crash when a barge rammed into the Duck Boat, after the boat became disabled.

A public ceremony followed the private one, with a release of doves and formal wreath laying ceremony along the riverfront.

Ride the Ducks says it is resuming operations in San Francisco, Atlanta and two other locations.

A statement from the company says inspections show the ducks vessels are safe.

But the Duck Boat rides in Philadelphia remain suspended, as they have been since the day of the accident.

(Photo by KYW's Kim Glovas)