ON MAY 10, 2009 AT APPROX. 14:45 HRS, A 19' MASTERCRAFT SKI BOAT (LA4934EN)BEING OPERATED WAS TRAVELLING SOUTHBOUND IN THE PEARL RIVER NAVAGATION CANAL, JUST NORTH OF LOCK ONE, TOWING A SKIER, WHO WAS USING A WAKEBOARD, WHEN THE WAKEBOARDER TRAVELLED FROM THE STARBOARD SIDE OF THE VESSEL IN ORDER TO JUMP THE VESSEL'S WAKE. WAKEBOARDER PERFORMED A SOMMERSAULT (FLIP) & LOST CONTROL OF HIS WAKEBOARD WHEN THE WAKEBOARD LANDED IN THE WATER BEHIND THE VESSEL. IT'S BELIEVED THAT THE WAKEBOARD HIT WAKEBOARDER ON THE RIGHT HAND SIDE OF HIS HEAD AND HIS RIGHT JAW AND SHOULDER. WAKEBOARDER WAS RENDERED UNCONSCIOUS IN THIS INCIDENT & HAD TO BE PULLED FROM THE WATERBY PERSONS AT A NEARBY DOCK. IT IS ALSO BELIEVED THAT WAKEBOARDER MAY HAVE LANDED CLOSE TO A DOCK ON THE STARBOARD (LEFT) SIDE OF THE VESSEL AND TRIED TO TURN AWAY FROM THE DOCK WHEN CONTROL OF THE WAKEBOARD WAS LOST. PFD'S WERE PROPERLY USED IN THIS INCIDENT & THE INVOLVEMENT OF ALCOHOL IS NOT SUSPECTED IN THIS INCIDENT.
PEARL RIVER                   