On August 11, 2012 at approximately 23:30 p.m., Operator was operating his vessel LA 4521 EE down Southwest Pass with four other subjects on board when he struck a wind dam causing the bow of the vessel to get stuck on the dam.  Operator and occupant got minor injuries.  Subjects then tried to reach help using cell phones and a distress devine on the GPS.  At approximately 12:20 a.m. on 08/12/2012 Coast Guard arrived on seen and took the five subjects back in to Cypress Cove Marina.  I Sr. Agent was contacted by the Plaquemines Parish Shriffs Office at approximately 7:30 a.m. on 08/12/2012 and told of the accident, I then responded.
10 year old was wearing a PFD while underway, the other four subjects put them on after the collission with the fixed object.  The vessel had hydraulic steering.  Contributing factors to this incident would be operator inexperience with operating his vessel down Southwest Pass at night. Operator stated he had never been out of Southwest Pass at night. wing dams extending onto pass.

VENICE                        