On 3/15/12 Operator was operating his vessel, LA8750 EB in a drainage canal at the end of Cotton Rd. in St. Mary Parish.  The vessel was occupied by operator and two other subjects.  At about 745pm the subjects left the boat landing next to the Cotton Rd. Bridge.  They traveled under the bridge and headed West in the drainage canal to go frog gigging.  At about 11:00 they were headed east and planned to travel past the bridge at the cotton Rd. Launch.  Operator advised that they knew the bridge was ahead of him but he wasn't maintaining a proper lookout. 

He further stated that he advised Occupant1 to pull the drain plug in order to drain the water out of the boat.  Operator was at the helm in front of the vessel while Occupant2 was sitting on an ice chest in the center of the vessel.  Occupant1 was in the rear of the vessel, holding the plug.  Operator was wearing a spotlight on top of his head and continued to look back at Occupant1 so that Occupant1 could see what he was doing.  However, Operator was not watching for the bridge ahead.  The vessel struck the piling supports under the bridge on its port bow.  Upon impact, all three subjects were ejected in the water and the vessel sank.  None of the subjects were wearing a pfd, nor was Operator wearing the kill switch lanyard.  

When Occupant2 surfaced, he used his cell phone as a search light to locate Occupant1 to locate Occupant1 who was unconscious and floating.  Occupant2 and Operator pulled Occupant1 from the water and administered CPR.  They transported Occupant1 to Teche Regional Hospital where he was pronounced dead by St.  Mary Coroner's Investigator. At about 12:00 am LDWF Enforcement Agents responded to Teche Regional Hospital and obtained the attached statements from both Operator and. Occupant2.  Sgt. obtained blood and urine from Operator to determine if alcohol and or drugs were involved.  The blood and urine obtained were sent to LSP  Crime Lab or toxicology and blood alcohol testing. According to the LSP Crime Lab test results, Operator's  BAC was .060g%.  His toxicology report indicated that Hydrocodnne, Tramadol, Amphetamine and Dihydrocodeine were all present.  Sgt. obtained a Subpoena Duces Tecum to obtain Operator's hospital records for the night of the incident.  Upon inspection, the agents found that the vessel HIN was removed but the HIN assigned to the registration was LAZ1294B988.  On October 17, 2012 at about 545 pm  Sgt. issued Operator Citation and charged with violation of RS 34:851.4, Careless operation of a watercraft and RS 34:851.33A, Possession of a motorboat with the serial numbers altered.
Patterson                     