A Hornblower Cruises vessel returning from a whale watching trip Thursday afternoon crashed into a San Diego pier, injuring seven.
The San Diego Union-Tribune reported that a mechanical malfunction aboard the 142’8”x33’x10’5” Adventure Hornblower caused the throttle to become stuck in the forward position, sending the ship into the Embarcadero at about 12:50 p.m. on Thursday.
According to the Union-Tribune, seven passengers suffered minor to moderate injuries, and three of those were sent to local hospitals. None of the injuries were life threatening.
“It felt like we were coming in a little hot,” Deb Ellis, a visitor from Phoenix told the newspaper. “Then the boat hit the dock. The next thing I heard was four blasts of the horn. ... We hit pretty hard.”
In a video posted by YouTube user Steve Holden, pedestrians are seen scrambling to get away as the ship motors toward the pier, blowing its horn before impact.
The hull of the Adventure Hornblower was damaged in the incident, as was part of the brick walkway on the Embarcadero.
At the time of the crash, the Adventure Hornblower was reported to be carrying 139 people. The vessel can carry up to 550, according to Hornblower’s website, and the three-deck vessel is certified for ocean cruising and whale and dolphin watching.
