RedactedNarrative: On September 18, 2020 I, Sgt. of the Louisiana Dept. of Wildlife and Fisheries Enforcement Division Region 1, was contacted by the Claiborne Parish Sheriff's Office in regards to a boat accident on Lake Claiborne within Claiborne Parish.
  
  They stated that two boats had run into each other, and that there was on individual seriously injured that had been taken to Pleasure Point Marina.  I proceeded to the incident by water as the Sheriff's Department notified me that Deputy was on scene in his patrol boat.  I arrived at the scene and made contact with Deputy as he had Vessel 1 (LA 3126 EM) tied to his vessel.  
  
  It was completely submerged other than the approximately four feet of the bow.  Deputy stated that he retrieved the operator of Vessel 1 out of the water, and had taken him to Pleasure Point Marina for medical care.  Pafford EMS had been dispatched to care for Operator1.  
  
  Deputy1 advised me that the operator of Vessel 2 and passenger had also gone to Pleasure Point Marina.  I proceeded to the Pleasure Point Marina where I made contact with the operator of Vessel 2.  
  
  Operator2 stated that he and his girlfriend had just left his residence in his vessel.  They proceeded north-east in the main part of the lake at a slow speed.  He said that all of a sudden a boat hit them out of the blue.  
  
  V2 occupant said that it sounded like a loud explosion. Operator2 said that the next thing he saw was a man floating face down in the water with no life jacket on.   Operator2 said he told his girlfriend that a boat hit them, and then jumped into the water and pulled the man back to his boat.  V2 occupant said she called 911.  
  
  Operator2 said that a pontoon boat with two men arrived to help stop the boat that hit him.  One of the men jumped into the water to help try to pull Operator1 in but could not.  Another pontoon boat arrived with EMT's to help with Operator1, but could not get him in the boat.  Deputy1 arrived in his Sheriff's vessel, and the men loaded Operator1 onto Deputy1's vessel and transported him to Pleasure Point Marina.  
  
  The damage to Vessel 2 consisted of a gouge and top coating of the fiberglass on the starboard side along with scratches and paint/rubber transfer from vessel 1.  The damage on Vessel 1 consisted of the crushing blow to the bow and starboard side.  The rub rail has been pulled off half way down the starboard side, and there are deep gouges on the starboard side from the screws of Vessel 2.  
  
  By statements and the damage of each boat, I believe that Vessel 1 struck Vessel 2 at approximately a 45 degree angle of the starboard side, and the operator was thrown out into the water.  Vessel 1 and Vessel 2 were on paths to cross.  Vessel 2 had Vessel 1 on his starboard side and did not yield to Vessel 1 which had the right-of way based on LA RS 34:851.4 which states that when vessels are on paths to cross, the vessel on the left will yield the right-of-way to the vessel on the right.  The contributing factors of the incident are:  1.  Operator Inattention, 2.  Rules of the Road, Fail to Yield Right of Way on paths that cross, 3.  Careless Operation.  Both vessels were equipped with PFD's.  Operator2 was not affected by alcohol or drugs.  Operator1 is deceased, and results are pending.
  