Saturday August 31, 2013
State Game Warden was notified by the Sabine county Sheriffs office of a boating accident that occurred on Toledo Bend lake in Sabine County, Texas.  The accident occurred at approximately  11:00AM on Toledo Bend lake near the six mile boat ramp.  Sabine County Game Wardens arrived on the scene shortly after the accident occurred.  The accident involved a single vessel owned and operated by subject.  According to Operator, he and his wife were fishing that morning.  Operator stated that, "I was coming to the boat ramp on plane and tried to turn under the bridge.  When I tried to turn the boat would not turn and we hit the bridge."  Operator and his wife were the only subjects in the boat.  According to Operator he tried to power the vessel down but it was too late.  Operator's 2009 17ft G# (TX 4420 BA) struck the six mile bridge and ejected him and his wife.  Operator surfaced the water and noticed the boat was making small circles in the water near the bridge.  Operator reached for the steering column on the boat and turned the engine off.  Operator pulled his wife from the water.  Both subjects were able to get back in the vessel.  A nearby fisherman called 911.  Operator was towed to the nearby bank.  State Game Warden confirmed the chain of events with several witnesses in the area, written statements were gathered, and photographs of Operator's vessel were taken.  Wife avoy was air lifted to UTMB in Galveston by SETX Air Rescue, as of September 3, 2013 she was listed in critical condition.  Warden did not detect any odor of alcohol or any evidence of alcohol or drugs being involved in the accident.  Operator voluntarily gave a specimen of his blood.  The accident was determined by Warden to be accidental, pending the blood results.
Hemphill