RedactedNarrative: On June 15th 2021 at approximately 10:40am, I was advised of a boating incident on Boeuf River.  Initial reports were that the operator was ejected and missing.  Corporal and I arrived at the Fort Necessity Recreation Area and launched our vessel into Boeuf River at approximately 11:30am.  Approximately one mile south of Hwy. 4, we made contact with a deputy from the Caldwell Parish Sheriff's Office.  The deputy showed us the vessel, as he found it, and described the area where the accident occurred.  We secured the vessel and found that the steering on the center console was broken, the throttle was in the reverse position, and the propeller was covered in vines.  We took possession of the vessel and towed it back to the boat launch so that we could secure it for the course of our investigation.  
          Once back at the boat ramp, I made contact with the passenger.  PASSENGER stated that her husband, OPERATOR 1 was operating the vessel and she was sitting on a tool box just forward of the center console. They struck a submerged object putting the vessel into a hard right hand turn subsequently causing him OPERATOR 1 to be ejected and throwing her against the side of the vessel.  PASSENGER stated that she was able to get the engine stopped.  She then stated that she started the engine to rescue OPERATOR 1 but the vessel would only spin in circles to the right.   OPERATOR 1 did not resurface and a search of the area was made. PASSENGER made a 911 call that went to Caldwell Parish Sheriff's Office.  Multiple agencies including LDWF responded to the accident.  Agencies patrolled the area and OPERATOR 1's body was recovered by Franklin and Ouachita Parish Sheriff's Departments on June 17th, 2021 at approximately 8:04 am.  The body had drifted about a mile south of the location of the initial search and was recovered from the East bank of Boeuf River.  The coordinates of the recovery are 32° 03.363N x 91° 54.835W.  
       An inspection of the vessel and of all operating controls found that the attached steering cable is believed to be broken inside the steering gear box  During inspection I turned the steering wheel right and left multiple times.  There was no response at the engine and there was little to no resistance felt.  This steering system had been modified.  The actual steering control was a dual cable system that had been altered to control a single point steering.  The unattached cable of the dual steering system was exposed and found lying under the center console.            
       Photos of the vessel and steering system were taken and are included in this report.    At this time our investigation leads us to believe that steering cable breaking is the leading cause of the accident.   It is believed that the steering cable broke causing the vessel to steer hard to the right subsequently ejecting OPERATOR 1 and throwing PASSENGER against the side of the vessel.  This vessel was equipped with 5 class 3 PFDs and 1 Class 4.  No PFDs were used
       On June 24th, 2021 I relinquished the vessel.  The steering cable and other steering components were seized and are being held for evidence at the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Enforcement Region 2 office.
  