On June 30, 2012, at approximately 12:46pm, Agent received a call from his dispatcher concerning an accident involving a boat pulling a skier on the Pearl River Navigation Canal in Bush, La. Sgt. arrived on the scene first, followed by Senior Agent.
Once on the scene, it was determined that Operator was operating a 15’ flatboat (w/40hp Yamaha remote steering) with two passengers on board. While operating this boat, he was also pulling two juvenile boys on an intertube. The two boys both wearing PFD’s were on dual seat intertube when Operator came to a place on the canal where he made a 180 degree turn. As he did, the momentum of the turn slung the intertube rapidly towards the shore where one person was ejected from the intertube and ended up on the shore of the canal. It was here that he received an obvious injury to his head and it was later determined that he suffered disc damage in his neck. The other boy was uninjured, as he was able to stay on the intertube. Operator told agents that he was at about half throttle at the time of the turn and said that the tube “got outside of the boat”, went towards the bank quickly and threw victim off. They went to where he was thrown off and got him back to the launch, just a short distance away. He was airlifted from the scene to University Hospital in New Orleans for further treatment where he remains as of July 2, 2012.
All people on board the boat were wearing proper PFD’s at the time of the incident. No alcohol or drug use is suspected in this incident.
It is Agent conclusion that due to the narrowness of this canal, combined with a rope length of 57’ to the intertube, the operator should have been aware of the dangers of making a 180 degree turn at the rate of speed he was traveling. Had he been more aware of his surroundings, this skiing mishap could have been avoided. Agent has yet to charge Operator since he is at University Hospital with the victim and his family but charges are pending at this time for Careless Operation of a Watercraft.

BUSH                          