Fatal Duck Boat Crash Caused By Cell Phone, Report Finds

PHILADELPHIA -- A government report on last summer's fatal duck boat crash in Philadelphia reveals the tugboat pilot in the crash was consumed by a family emergency and on his cell phone when the collision happened.

The National Transportation Safety Board report says the first mate told a tugboat company lawyer he had learned that day of a life-threatening medical emergency involving his young son.

The 4,400-page report released Monday also says the mate did not assign a lookout on the long barge being pushed by the tug.

The barge struck a disabled tourist boat, killing two Hungarian students and plunging 35 others aboard into the Delaware River on July 7.

The NTSB report does not analyze what caused the crash.

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