On 1/16/11 Sgt. was notified by Sgt. of a boat incident which had occurred in Belle River, Assumption Parish. Sgt. advised me that the subjects involved were being transported to the Spunky Monkey boat landing. Upon my arrival the passenger had already been transported by Acadian Ambulance to Teche Regional in Morgan City. The operator was still at the landing. After speaking to Operator and a witness who was following him, it was learned that operator hit a submerged object while traveling on plane in a pipeline  canal known as The 21"Canal. The impact caused the mounting bolts for the motor to break causing the motor to be thrown into the vessel and then back into the water. When the motor entered the vessel it smashed Operator's left hand and the propeller cut occupant’s right heel. Both subjects were treated at Teche Regional in Morgan City and released. Operator was wearing his kill switch, but was not wearing a PFD. occupant was wearing his PFD. There is no  sign of alcohol or drugs involved in this incident. The incident was unavoidable due to the fact that the object Operator hit was completely submerged. However, because Operator's vessel is under 16 ft. and driven by a tiller handle outboard the law requires all subjects aboard the vessel to be wearing PFDs. Also because Operator’s birth date, he is also required to have completed a boating safety education course, which he did not. He was cited accordingly and released.
Pierre Part                   