On 5 May 2012, at approximately 2:15 p.m. the operator was operating his 18'3" Mirage River Racer Tunnel boat powered by a 300 EFI Racing Mercury motor southwest on the Red River approximately 2 miles south of Jimmy Davis Bridge in Shreveport located in Caddo Parish.  According to eye witnesses the boat caught a gust of wind and went airborne and twisted in the air and made contact with the water throwing Operator into the water.  Operator was airlifted to LSU Hospital in Shreveport with neck, back, and shoulder injuries.  He was found to have broke his neck in four places which paralyzed his diaphram, fractured his lower spine, severely damaged his kidneys and bruised his brain.  Operator stated at the hospital he was traveling at 110 MPH at the time of the accident.  He also stated, and eye witnesses confirmed, that Operator was wearing a PFD and his kill switch at the time of the accident. Operator admitted to the wildlife agent Sgt. at the hospital to drinking 1 beer and volunteered a blood sample for analysis at LSP Crime Lab in Baton Rouge.  Subject was released from LSU Hospital on May 10, 2012, and was issued a citation for Reckless Operation for violating Rules of the Road for vessels #16 and a written warning for Operate Unregistered Motorboat.  On June 15, 2012, LDWF Region 1 Office received the results of the blood analysis on Operator taken on the day of the accident at LSU Hospital. The results were no ethyl alcohol detected.
Shreveport                    