On 7/24/13 at 0639Hrs, Agent was notified via radio by LDWF dispatch of a boating accident on Bayou Lafourche in Golden Meadow. Agent contacted Port Fourchon Harbor Police and  they advised Agent that a subject traveling north in Bayou Lafourche had struck a piling owned by Port Fourchon Habor Ploice and was being brought to Lady of the Sea Hospital in Galliano where he was later transported to University Hospital in New Orleans. Agent arrived at the scene of the accident and learned that  operator was operating a tiller steering vessel bearing LA743EM, which had sustained significant damage to the bow starboard and to the point of impact was approximately 300 yards north of the launch site to the east of Bayou Lafourche 25 feet off of the bank.  Bayou Lafourche at that point is approximately 350 feet wide. Upon impact, Operator went airborne impaling the sign that was mounted to the piling and came to rest inside the vessel (feet on front deck torso in the bottom of the vessel.) Harbor Police Officers stated that Operator did not have his PFD on upon their arrival however there was a PFD inside the vessel. Upon investigation a spotlight nor navigation lights were found in or on the vessel.  It is still under investigation  if the subject was under any influences of intoxication at the time of the accident.  Lt. with the University Hospital Police contacted Agent to advise him that there was approximately 3-4 grams of marijuana on Operator’s person. Agent contacted Region 8 Enforcement Agents to make a visit to University Hospital to draw blood from Operator and take custody of the marijuana. The Lafourche Parish Coroner contacted Agent to notify him of Operator's injuries, multiple traumatic head injury and a broken right arm and Operator Jr. was pronounced dead at 1147 hrs on 7/24/13. Contributing factors in this accident are: Violation of Navigation Rules of the Road 16 All Vessels shall be operated at reasonable speeds for given conditions and situations and must be under complete control of the operator at all times, excessive speed, and operator inattention. Results of blood tests are pending.
Golden Meadow