ON MARCH 20, 2011 AT APPROX. 3:15 HRS, A 24' BEACHCOMBE PARTY BARGE (LA2159FJ) WAS TRAVELLING SOUTHBOUND ON THE TCHEFUNCTE RIVER AT THREE TO FIVE KNOTS, JUST SOUTH (DOWNRIVER) FROM THE I-12 BRIDGE WITH THREE PERSONS ON BOARD, WHEN THE VESSEL WAS OVERTAKEN ON THE STBD SIDE BY AN UNKNOWN LARGER VESSEL. IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE VESSEL PASSED, THE PARTY BARGE STRUCK A SUBMERGED OBJECT, THROWING ONE OF THE PASSENGERS  FOREWARD, CAUSING BRUSING TO HER BACK AND SIDE AND CAUISING 7 BROKEN RIBS ON HER RIGHT SIDE. THERE WAS NO OBVIOUS DAMAGE TO THE VESSEL. THE THIRD PERSON ON BOARD WAS UNINJURED. operator THEN DROVE HIS VESSEL TO HIS RESIDENCE AT 71 BOGUE FALAYA DRIVE IN COVINGTON, WHERE EMS WAITED TO TRANSPORT victim TO ST. TAMMANY PARISH HOSPITAL FOR TREATMENT. 
ALCOHOL IS NOT SUSPECTED TO BE A FACTOR IN THE INCIDENT. IT IS POSSIBLE THAT THE PASSING VESSEL DISLODGED AN OBJECT FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE RIVER, CAUSING IT TO BE STRUCK BY VESSEL.
COVINGTON                     