Vessel 1, a pontoon boat (TX 5504 HP), was launched at River’s End boat ramp on the ICW near the San Bernard River.  The vessel, with three occupants including the operator, pulled into the ICW where the engine stalled.  The operator claimed to have restarted the engine three times and it immediately died each time.  They claim that they realized they were not going to be able to get out of the way of vessel 2 so they put on their personal floatation devices and jumped into the water.  Vessel 2 (Miss Sally) is a barge/push boat combination; there were two empty barges fixed end to end with a tug in front pulling and (Miss Sally) pushing.  Vessel 2 was heading Westbound in the ICW when vessel 1 pulled out of the boat ramp area and into the ICW.  According to statements made on behalf of vessel 2, the operator saw vessel 1 but did not see nor hear any signs of distress.  They also claim that once he did notice the people on bank waving their arms, the operator put the vessel in reverse at full throttle, but could not stop in time to avoid the collision.

Investigator from TPWD Completed the report.
Rivers End                    