RedactedNarrative: At approximately 12:31pm on July 13, 2016, Catahoula Sheriff's Office received a call of a body observed by two subjects from the Jonesville side of Little River, floating in Little River near Trinity Park.  Subjects reported yelling at the subject but he was unresponsive.  CPSO dispatched deputies and I at approximately 12:32pm.  
  
  On the scene, I observed one 16 foot, remote stick steer Sea Ark (LA 3496 FZ)(HIN: SOM35026E111), powered by a 40hp outboard engine (Serial: 1C188784), ran aground on the Northern shore of Little River, with one male subject approximately 8 feet in front of the vessel partially in the water, face down with his mouth and nose submerged.  GPS Coordinates for the accident site reflected N 31°37.640' / W 91°48.586'.  Victim's body was positioned face down, just off of the starboard bow of the vessel, with his head pointing towards the vessel and feet pointing in the direction of travel, indicating that upon impact, his body flipped forward at least half of a rotation and rolled.  Statements were collected by Jonesville Police Department from the two individuals that called the accident in to the Catahoula Parish Sheriff's Office however neither of the subjects witnessed the incident take place.
  
  Victim appeared to have blood near his right temple with blood also coming from his right ear and a bite mark to the top portion of his tongue, possibly caused by striking the trolling motor propeller or the bullet of the trolling motor positioned just forward of the front operators seat or the vessel's cleat just forward of the operators seat on the starboard bow.  No transfer of blood or body fluid could be found on the vessel's trolling motor propeller or the cleat on the starboard bow.  One type III PFD was positioned just rear of the forward operators seat, on the floor of the boat, unbuckled, but accessible.  
  
  The rear passenger seat of the vessel was observed closed and no evidence indicating a second a passenger was present.  Only one PFD was present in the vessel.  Body was released to the Catahoula Parish Coroner's office for an autopsy.  Skeg line and propeller cuts in the sand indicated that the vessel was traveling Northbound on Black River and made a left turn traveling Eastbound onto Little River.  
  
  It appeared that Victim's vessel could not make the turn and  ran aground, traveling approximately 40 feet, parallel to the waters edge, before coming to a stop.  Victim was not wearing a PFD and the safety kill switch was still attached to the vessel with the kill switch toggle in the “run” position.  The key to the vessel was in the run position and the vessel was in the forward full throttle position.  The remote stick steering lever was all the way to the rear, contacting the vessel's floor, steering at maximum port.  A large boil impression was left in the sand aft of the vessel indicating that the engine continued to run for a period of time before dying on it's own.  Two ice-chests were observed to the rear of the forward operator's seat in the floor of the vessel.  One ice chest was unmarked and contained bottled drinking water with ice.  The second was marked “Fish” on the lid and contained only ice.  Several fishing poles were observed secured on the port side of the vessel's deck.  An inventory of the vessel's storage compartments revealed no signs of alcoholic beverages or controlled substances.  
  
  The vessel appeared structurally sound and did not show any signs of damage from the accident.  The keel of the vessel did not have any recent signs of damage from an impact, however some older impressions were observed.  The lower drive portion of the 40hp Mercury outboard motor on the vessel had no signs of damage.  The propeller on the engine also displayed no signs of damage.  The vessel's electrical system power switch was observed in the “off” position.  When turned on, the vessel's fuel gauge displayed a near full tank of fuel.  There were no items or debris on the shore or in the water observed that could have been thrown from the vessel upon impact.  The capacity decal on the vessel indicates that the vessel is capable of of holding four persons or 510 pounds to include a maximum 40 horse power engine.  After processing the vessel, Sergeant transported the vessel (LA 3496 FZ) to Victim's residence where brother was waiting and assumed responsibility of the vessel.
  
  Based on observations at the scene of the accident, victim did not steer his vessel at an appropriate time that would allow him to safely complete the turn from Black River onto Little River.  Observing his vessel being at full throttle at the scene of the accident, over powering could have played a role in the inability complete the maneuver.  Upon impact, Victim was ejected from the vessel, striking his head on an unknown object, possibly knocking him unconscious, with his body landing face down, submerging his mouth and nose in the water on the Northern shore of Little River.  Autopsy reports are pending showing cause of death.
  