VESSEL # 1, A 17' FIBERGLASS RECERATIONAL FISHING VESSEL, ALLEGEDLY OPERATED BY OPERATORA, WAS TRAVELLING UPSTREAM AT APPROX. 15-20 MPH. THREE PASSENGERS WERE ABOARD. VESSEL #1 WAS REPORTEDLY TRAVELLING TO THE LEFT OF THE CENTER JUST PRIOR TO THE COLLISION AND THE COLLISION ALLEGEDLY OCCURRED ON THE WESTERN SIDE OF THE RIVER. OPERATOR OF VESSLE #1 REPORTEDLY FAILED TO MAINTAIN PROPER LOOKOUT AS IT WAS A PASSENGER WHO ALERTED HIM TO THE UNLIT PONTOON BOAT IN HIS PATH. VESSEL #2, A 22' PONTOON BOAT, ALLEGEDLY OPERATED BY operatorB WAS TRAVELLING DOWNSTREAM IN THE AMITE RIVER AT APPROX 5-10 MPH. VESSEL #2 WAS NOT DISPLAYING RUNNING LIGHTS. ONE PASSENGER (THE OWNER OF THE VESSEL) WAS ABOARD. EACH OPERATOR REPORTEDLY VEERED TO HIS OR HER RESPECTIVE RIGHT JUST PRIOR TO THE COLLISION THEREIN AVOIDING A HEAD-ON COLLISION BUT A GLANCING OR "SIDE-SWIPE" COLLISION OCCURRED CAUSING NOTABLE DAMAGE TO BOTH VESSELS. A SUITABLE NUMBER OF PFD'S WERE ABOARD EACH VESSEL BUT WERE NOT WORN. NO ONE WAS EJECTED FROM EITHER VESSEL. ALCOHOL IS NOT BELIEVED TO BE A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR IN THIS ACCIDENT.
MAUREPAUS                     