LA DEPT OF WILDLIFE & FISHERIES WAS NOTIFIED ABOUT A ONE VESSEL ACCIDENT WHICH HAD OCCURRED IN LAKE PONTCHARTRAIN NEAR THE ENTRANCE TO MANDEVILLE HARBOR. UPON ARRIVING AT THE SCENE, AGENTS LEARNED THAT FOUR SUBJECTS WERE RECREATIONAL TRAWLING IN LAKE PONTCHARTRAIN IN A 16 FOOT ALUMINUM WELDBILT, LOUISIANA REG. LA 9620 EX, POWERED BY A SUZUKI 60 HP OUTBOARD MOTOR. SUBJECTS STATED THAT AS THEY BEGAN TO PULL IN THE TRAWL FROM THE STERN, WATER BEGAN TO ENTER THE VESSEL DUE TO ROUGH SEAS. THE VESSEL SANK IN APPROX 6 FEET OF WATER & ALL FOUR POB'S WERE TRANSPORTED SAFELY ASHORE BY ST. TAMMANY PARISH SHERIFF'S OFFICE DEPUTIES. ONE SUBJECT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION AND WAS TRANSPORTED TO AN AREA HOSPITAL FOR OBSERVATION. THE OPERATOR WAS CITED BY DWF FOR FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH PFD REGULATIONS. THE VESSEL WAS FOUND TO BE EQUIPPED WITH ONLY 1 TYPE III AND 2 TYPE II USCG APPROVED PFD'S. NO ALCOHOL/DRUG USE SUSPECTED IN THE INVESTIGATION. RESPONDING AGENCIES: LA. DEPT. OF WILDLIFE & FISHERIES, ST. TAMMANY PARISH SHERIFF'S OFFICE, ACADIAN AMBULANCE SERVICE.
MANDEVILLE                    