On 05/18/2013 at approximately 10:30am, I Sr. Agent was off duty and received a phone call from Ouachita Parish Sheriff’s Office regarding a boat accident on the Ouachita River.  I called 10-8 and notified Lt. of the possible accident location around 2442 Bayou Darbonne Drive West Monroe, LA.  At approximately 10:40am, I arrived at the location, just north of the mouth of Darbonne Bayou on the Ouachita River.  OSPO Deputies were already on the scene and dispatched Med Flight to airlift one victim to LSU-Shreveport Medical Center.   

Operator2, operator and only occupant of Vessel #2, sustained severe head trauma and punctured lungs.  Operator2 was unconscious and not able to give a statement.  Operator1 and wife occupied Vessel #1 and were fishing in the Ronald McDonald Bass Tournament on this day.  Per Operator1’s statement, he was idling out the mouth of Darbonne Bayou into the main river and observed Operator2’s vessel on the west bank of the river which appeared stationary.  He throttled his bass boat up and just as the bow of his vessel broke plane his vessel (LA 1811-FG) made contact with the starboard side of Operator2’s vessel (LA 5173-FV) at the drivers console.    Operator1 was read his Miranda Rights and said he did understand.  Operator1 and his wife were wearing their PFD’s.  His bass boat is equipped with Cable Steering.  Operator2’s Ski boat is equipped with Hydraulic Steering.  I administered the Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus test of Operator2 and he showed no clues.  He said he consumed no alcoholic beverages on this day.  Also, Operator1 voluntarily agreed to give a breathe sample on the Intoxilyzer which yielded .000g%.  

Witness1 witnessed the crash from his house and said that Operator2 never did see the impacting vessel and was NOT wearing his PFD.  Operator2’s condition is severe and he is currently in the Intensive Care Unit at the time of this report.  Both vessels involved were seized and are being held at the Region 2 Office until further notice.  Upon the arrival at the Office, Operator2’s vessel was inventoried and Senior Agents found a small black leather bag under the passenger console containing suspected Marijuana and a glass pipe.  The suspected Marijuana was seized and will be held at the Northeast Louisiana Criminalistic Lab for testing.  
 the operator of vessel 2 was hit by the hull of vessel 1 as it passed over the top of his vessel.  The operator was not struck by the prop of vessel 1, only his vessel.
West Monroe