On December 24, LDWF Enforcement Agent was notified of a boating incident that  had occurred in the Atchafalaya Basin on Cypress Pass in St. Mary Parish.  Agent was advised that one subject was transported to Teche Regional Hospital in Morgan City to be treated for his injuries he sustained during the incident.  Agent arrived there and spoke to the operator.  He advised that they were returning to the launch when he struck an over hanging tree. No drugs or alcohol were suspected in this incident.  The operator was not wearing a PFD but the passenger was.  When Agent inspected the vessel he noticed that the steering was not working properly.  It was very hard to steer and would slip.  Agent asked the operator about this and he advised that it was not that way prior to the incident.
Patterson