4 killed in duck boat collision were from Austria, Indonesia, China and Japan

SEATTLE Students from four countries were killed in Thursday’s collision on the Aurora Bridge between a tour bus of international students and a Ride the Ducks vehicle.

Those killed in the crash were Claudia Derschmidt, a 49-year-old woman from Austria; Privaudo Putradauto, an 18-year-old man from Indonesia; Mami Sato, a 37-year-old woman from Japan; and a 17-year-old girl from China whose name was not released because she is a minor.

Eva Kammel, Austria’s honorary consulate for Washington, Idaho and Montana, said Derschmidt had come to Seattle about two weeks ago with her 15-year-old son. She planned to take classes and improve her English as her son went to high school in the area.

Derschmidt’s family has been notified of her death, Kammel said. North Seattle College has been working with government officials to reach the other families.

Faculty, students and staff gathered on campus Friday to grieve the four students.

A victim of the tour bus and Ride the Ducks crash being treated at Harborview Medical Center has been upgraded from critical to serious condition.

That leaves one person in critical condition and 11 in serious condition, with all in intensive care, said Susan Gregg, a Harborview spokeswoman. Three more victims are in satisfactory condition.

Harborview is treating 15 people after the crash.

“The injuries ranged from broken bones to facial injuries and head injuries,” Gregg said.

The patient who remains in critical condition is a 17-year-old girl.

Many of the victims were international students on an outing from North Seattle College.

Well-wishers can email patients through the UW Medicine website (specify Duck boat/tour crash). Volunteers will deliver notes to the patients.

“It’s a nice way to send their support without knowing people or being there,” Gregg said.

Five patients involved in the crash were sent to Virginia Mason Medical Center Thursday. One was transferred to Harborview Medical Center, said Gale Robinette in an email.

Four were treated for injuries and released Thursday evening.

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