RedactedNarrative: Single vessel boating incident. Vessel 1 contained 2 POB. Vessel 1 was being operated in the Horseshoe Canal headed toward the direction of the Dike Canal at an estimated speed of 25-30 MPH. Operator said he was navigating too close to the right shoreline while approaching an overhanging tree. Operating said he came down off of the throttle a little and quickly turned the steering wheel hard to the left to avoid the tree.  
  
  Operator said that he probably should have been operating a lot slower and that his motor was probably trimmed up too high to accurately make a sharp turn. Vessel 1 did not respond well to the attempted left turn and slid into the tree. The contact from the overhanging limbs of the tree extracted the operator, causing injury. 
  
  The kill switch lanyard was not attached to the operator, therefore Vessel 1 was still travelling forward gear after the extraction of the operator. The passenger gained control of Vessel 1 and drove back to the operator who was in inches of water near the shoreline of the canal.  No PFD's were worn by neither POB. T
  
  he passenger assisted the operator back into Vessel 1. The passenger said that the operator was bleeding very badly from the head. Passenger began first aid and applied pressure with a rag to the head would of the operator to try and stop the bleeding. The passenger notified 911 of the accident and the injury. The passenger drove the injured operator back to the launch where EMS was waiting to provide further professional care to the injured person. The operator of Vessel 1 was taken to University Medical Center by N.O. EMS to be treated for injury. Upon examination of Vessel 1 by agents, there was a cooler with 5 alcoholic canned beverages inside of it. On the floor of the Vessel 1 under the driver's console there was bottle cap from and alcoholic beverage. On the floor of the Vessel 1 there was a clear plastic container with gummy bears inside of it that were soaking in a clear liquid that had the odor of an alcoholic beverage. Also there was prescription pill bottle with a cut straw and a small amount of clear liquid inside of it wedged under the driver's seat of Vessel 1. Agents met with operator Vessel 1 at UMC and had a blood sample drawn from him by professional medical staff.  Vessel 1 operator blood sample was sent off to LSP Crime Lab for scientific analysis to determine if there was any BAC or drugs present that may cause impairment. 
  
  Damage to Vessel 1 consists of scratches from the tree limbs on the starboard side outer hull for approximately 14 feet in length(total boat length 16'8). The windshield has scratches from tree. The GPS mount was also broken. No major damage that would compromise the functionality of Vessel 1. Just cosmetic damage,  Alcohol was not a factor in this incident but it is inconclusive that drugs were determined to be a factor.