I've been on multiple ferry rides in WA state and they chock the lead cars. All regular riders know the drill. Engine off, in park, e-brake on. Maybe with this short ride their procedures are different. Jeff may be on to something. Sorry for their families.

I've been on the Fisher Island ferry, the only way to get your car on that thing is to be a multi-millionare resident of the island, or a guest, and guests have to be screened. I almost got bumped because my last name was misspelled on the intake form.
The only way on or off the island is by that ferry, any any resident would know what to do. Hell, they WASH the cars as they get off so there's no sea spray stuck on their Bentleys. The cars are essentially loaded by hand with attendants.

What I'm saying is, they probably don't care about things like chocks and nets because everyone involved is kinda an expert at it. Either her car broke, or she pulled it out of park while grabbing her purse, or she had an "incident" and didn't get it properly loaded.

Some awful and shameful comment here. Not surprised.

Very sad these ladies had to die this way regardless of fault.

Harsh, but accurate.
People who operate motor vehicles should be expected to operate them in a reasonably competent manner.
But no amount of chocks, guard rails, or other means can completely fix stupid.

PS I find no shame in being honest.

Was thinking that the divers that recovered the bodies would look to see what position the gear was ever was in?

Yeah, really. People need to step back and think. Those were somebodies family.

Whoever posted the "too stupid to live" crap really need to take a step back and examine their emotional intelligence.

I agree, but I also think it's possible to be honest without being disrespectful. I know that there are some folks that have different ideas about being able to be honest period, and other folks that that are unconcerned about being respectful.

How many lawyers were injured trying to get to the accident scene?

At least these ladies didn't take anyone else with them. On our ferries here in Washington, there are often people standing at the ends of the car deck enjoying the view out over the water.

Am I reading this correctly? The car was running and in gear?

I've driven onto lots of ferries in the US and Europe. That's one activity where I follow instructions to the letter, pay attention to the folks in the yellow vests and don't get distracted until everything is extra secure and done moving. Heavy, moving objects and deep water make for an unforgiving environment.

Hmmm. Newer Mercedes?

I bet it had start / stop technology. She pulled on. Stepped on the brake, the engine stopped and presumably shut off the engine. I imagine the car put on the brakes.

She either took her foot off the brake or stepped on the gas and it fired up and drove off the boat, just like it would have if she was pulling away from a traffic light that turned green. A wheel chock or net wouldn’t have prevented this.

The Coast Guard is investigating how the car fell from the ferry, but sources familiar with the investigation told the Herald they believe Afra forgot to put the car in park and hit the gas pedal by accident when it began to roll, accelerating through a barrier and into the water.

The ferry was underway and her car was still running? I find that highly unlikely.

According to the linked story she must have left it in Drive and hit the gas when it rolled. OK I get that!
Yet the other cars are facing the rear of the ferry? Was her car also facing the rear of the ferry?
And if it was why was it in Drive after being Reversed onto the boat? Did she put it in Drive instead of Park?

Peter, the ferry is a double ender. You drive straight on one end and drive off the other. The pilot can operate the boat in either direction.
We have similar craft but because of the extreme tides in the Bay of Fundy the vessels have big ramps on either end. You aren't driving up those.
I'm guessing the theory of 'start -stop' technology may have contributed. Either way, the vehicle was in gear and the brake was not applied. Some mistakes you don't get to say "Sorry "for.

Best
Les

Agree

That would be an interesting twist. I'm not sure it would work for that time period? Our Macan has it. The worst, most gimmicky bit of technology. My wife keeps it turned off.

But then no a/c during that awful crossing.

The good news is that it appears the ferry was owned by the community of which one of the women was a member of.
The better news is that they'll probably change things for the better.

It actually saves a bunch of gas. I don't have a car with it, but I've driven several. I don't much like it either. I assume that I'd get used to it, or maybe not.
With the auto-stop-start feature, if you sit at a light for too long with the motor stopped and the interior heats up, the motor will crank back up to run the AC.