On 6 July 2013 at 1:15pm I Texas State Game Warden was notified by the Harrison County Sheriffs Office of a boat accident with injuries that just occurred on the Big Cypress River about one half mile east of Backwater Jacks campground/Marina.  I notified Texas State Game Wardens to assist in the investigation.  I was notified by dispatch that the parties involved were taken to the Highway 43 boat ramp awaiting EMS.  When I arrived on scene I noticed a white male later identified layed back on the front of a boat having difficulty breathing.  Another subject was sitting on the ground with numerous bruises on the trunk area.  After some statements were taken, the subjects were transported to LSU Trauma Center-Shreveport LA by the Marshall Fire Department myself and Game Warden went to the scene of the accident to investigate.  

According to statements Operator was operating a VIP ski boat heading east on Big Cypress River, he was pulling his two sons, the spotter in the boat was Occupant1.  After completing a sharp curve Operator noticed an object that was about to fly out of the vessel, as he reached down to catch it before it flew out he was distracted and looked back up right as he was about to hit a log in the river.  The boat went over the log and collided with a group of cypress knees on the edge of the water.  operator and Occupant1 were both ejected from the boat.  The primary impact mark on vessel was located and numerous other stress fractures were on vessel.  The vessel was released back to the family.  On 7 July 2013 Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Agent  obtained a statement from operator while he was still admitted in the hospital.
Karnack