Operator1 was traveling in a westerly direction, heading out of Lk. Borne into Unknown Pass, in his vessel a 20 ft. Hydrasport (LA 2166 FS).  Operator2 was heading in an Easterly direction heading into Lk. Borgne, in his 18 ft. Boston Whaler (MT 6078 AZ). Both vessels were operating at a planing speed and met in a head on situation in a blind bend in the pass.  The preliminary investigations shows that Operator 1made a hard turn to port causing a collision with vessel2 which caused both operator2 to be ejected and his vessel to drift a short distance from the collision site.  Both operators received injuries, Operator1’s being fatal.  Operator2 was wearing an inflatable PFD, but it did not inflate.  Operator1 had a PFD on board but was not wearing it at at the time of the accident.  Neither captain was wearing his kill switch at the time of the accident.  Alcohol was not a factor. Note: Unable to determine what specific objects in Vessels 1 or 2 caused the trauma.
NEW ORLEANS                   