ON MAY 24, 2009 AT APPROX. 1750 HRS., WILDLIFE ENFORCEMENT AGENTS WERE CONTACTED BY DISPATCH IN REGARDS TO A ONE VESSEL BOAT INCIDENT IN LAKE PONTCHARTRAIN NEAR THE MOUTH OF THE TCHEFUNCTE RIVER. A 23FT. SEA OX MOTOR VESSEL WITH NINE PERSONS ON BOARD HAD TAKEN ON WATER WHILE RETURNING TO THE RIVER THROUGH THE NAVIGATIONAL CHANNEL. ALL PERSONS ON BOARD WERE TAKEN BACK TO PORT BY ST. TAMMANY PARISH SHERIFF'S OFFICE PATROL VESSEL, AND THE VESSEL WAS TOWED IN BY ANOTHER RECREATIONAL BOATER. AFTER TRAILERING THE VESSEL, IT WAS INSPECTED BY AGENTS. THE TRANSOM HAD A TRANSOM BRACKET WHICH WAS THROUGHBOLTED INTO THE HULL, AND PROJECTED FROM THE TRANSOM APPROIX. 24 INCHES, WHERE THE 250 HP YAMAHA OUTBOARD WAS MOUNTED. THE TOP TWO TRANSOM BOLTS HAD PULLED THROUGH THE TRANSOM, & PRODUCED A LARGE HOLE WHERE WATER WAS ALLOWED INTO THE VESSEL. THE WOOD IN THE TRANSOM APPEARED TO BE ROTTEN, AND IT WAS LEARNED THAT THE VESSEL WAS IN A SLIP & STAYED IN THE WATER. ALL SAFETY EQUIPMENT WAS FOUND TO BE IN ACCORDANCE WITH STATE LAW, AND DRUGS NOR ALCOHOL ARE SUSPECTED TO BE CONTRIBUTING FACTORS IN THE INCIDENT.
Madisonville                  