On 1/20/12 at about 10:30 pm, vessel #2 was south bound in the GA Cut, while vessel #1 was north bound.  subject was sitting on his house boat when he saw that both vessels had their navigaiton lights on.  Operator2 advised that he never saw vessel #1.  Operator1 advised that he saw a spotlight up ahead of him but that he never saw vessel #2 until it was about 20 ft ahead. He turned hard to port in an attempt to avoid the collision.  However, the two vessels collided and vessel #2 travelled over the starboard side of vessel #1 and then hit the west bank of the GA Cut. All four subjects were ejected.  

Subject advised that he saw the red light on vessel #2 head straight to the west bank of the GA Cut.  He responded and assisted in getting all of the subjects out of the water. Operator2, Operator1 and his 13 yr old daughter were all transported to Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Lafayette where they were treated for injuries and released the next morning.  LDWF Enf Agents responded and made contact with both operators at the hospital where they obtained the attached statements.  The agents obtained a blood specimen from both operators to determine if alcohol and or drugs were involved, (pending LSP Crime Lab). Both occupants of vessel #1 were wearing their pfd; however Operator1 advised that his pfd wasn't properly buckled and he had to put it back on after the impact.  Operator1 also advised that he was wearing his kill switch lanyard at the time. Neither occupant in vessel #2 was wearing a pfd, nor was Operator2 wearing his kill switch lanyard.  Sgt. inspected vessel #2 on 1/21/12.  However, vessel #1 sank after the impact and has not been recovered.  On March 19, 2012, Sgt. obtained the LSP Crime Lab BAC and Toxicology report on both Operator2 and Operator1.  Both subjects were later charged with violation of LRS 34:851.14, Careless operation of a watercraft. Operator2 was additionally charged with violation of LRS 34:851.24F1 Failure to comply with PFD requirements.  See attached DWF 140 Offense Report regarding those charges.

Charenton                     