OPERATOR1 WAS OPERATING VESSEL 1, LA-7884-ET, TRAVELING NORTH ON THE WEST PEARL RIVER. OPERATOR1 WAS ON THE INCORRECT SIDE OF THE RIVER, WESTERN SHORELINE. OPERATOR1 HAD ONE PASSENGER IN HIS VESSEL. OPERATOR2 WAS OPERATING VESSEL 2, LA-5871-FU, TRAVELING SOUTH ON THE WEST PEARL RIVER. OPERATOR2 WAS ON THE CORRECT SIDE OF THE RIVER, WESTERN SHORELINE. OPERATOR2 HAD ONE PASSENGER ON HIS VESSEL. BOTH VESSELS WERE APPROACHING A HARD CURVE FROM OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS ON THE SAME SIDE OF THE RIVER. WHEN THE OPERATORS OF THE TWO VESSELS SAW ONE ANOTHER THEY BOTH TURNED TOWARD THE SHORELINE TO AVOID COLLISION. THEN BOTH TURNED TOWARD THE OPPOSITE SHORELINE. THE VESSELS THEN COLLIDED HEAD-ON. AFTER BOTH VESSELS AND OCCUPANTS TRAVELLED TO CRAWFORD'S LANDING, OPERATOR2 CALLED STPSO TO REPORT THE INCIDENT. OPERATOR1 AND HIS PASSENGER LEFT BEFORE AUTHORITIES ARRIVED. AGENT LOCATED OPERATOR1, ALONE, OPERATING THE VESSEL NEAR I-59 BOAT LAUNCH. OPERATOR1 WAS ARRESTED AFTER FIELD SOBRIETY TESTS WERE CONDUCTED. STPSO DEPUTIES OBTAINED STATEMENTS FROM THE PASSENGERS OF LA-5871-FU AND ADVISED AGENT THAT NO ALCOHOL OR DRUG USE IS SUSPECTED TO BE A FACTOR FOR THE OPERATOR OF VESSEL 2. THE PASSENGER OF VESSEL 1 WAS THEN LOCATED AT WHICH TIME HE GAVE A WRITTEN STATEMENT. ALL PFD REQUIREMENTS WERE MET AND ALCOHOL IS SUSPECTED TO BE A FACTOR IN THE INCIDENT.
Pearl River                   