4 killed as Ride The Ducks vehicle collides with charter bus

(Updated 9/25 10:45 a.m.) The scene of Thursday’s deadly crash on a Washington state bridge has been cleared. Four students from North Seattle College were killed and at least 51 people were injured in the crash. North Seattle College President, Warren Brown announced the victims identities early Friday morning as: 17-year-old from China, 18-year-old from Indonesia, 37-year-old from Japan and 49-year-old from Austria. NBC affiliate in Seattle, KING5, is working to confirm spelling of the victims names.

Trucks towed away the duck boat and the bus that were involved in the accident late Thursday night, so that investigators could take a closer look at the vehicles.

15 people remained in critical condition Thursday evening and 17 in serious condition. Victims range in age from a 17-year-old girl to a 61-year-old man.

A Florida man who was on vacation in Seattle was on board the duck boat, when he says the driver lost control. About 90 Seattle firefighters and medics responded to the scene.

Seattle, Wash. — (KING) Four people were killed and twelve were in critical condition after a charter bus, a Ride The Ducks tour vehicle, and two smaller vehicles collided on the Aurora Bridge in Seattle Thursday morning.

Twenty people had non-life threatening injuries. The Seattle Fire Department said most of the serious injuries were passengers on the bus.

A pickup truck and an SUV were also involved.

The charter bus was full of international students and staff from North Seattle College. The charter bus is owned by Bellair Charters based in Ferndale.

The Aurora Bridge is expected to remain closed into the evening. Seattle Mayor Ed Murray said the Ballard and Fremont bridges would be closed to boat traffic, which should help relieve traffic congestion.

Jesse Christensen said he was driving about 100-to-150 yards behind the duck, headed northbound. He said he saw the duck signal to move into the left lane when it suddenly lurched and the front, left wheel popped off. The duck clipped the SUV then almost t-boned the bus which was traveling southbound.

It happened at 11:13 a.m. Both directions are closed at the scene and will likely stay that way for several hours.

At least 50 people have been evaluated at the scene.

The force was so powerful, a huge gash was ripped in the side of the bus.