RedactedNarrative: A 17ft aluminum bass tracker with remote steering, powered by a 50hp Mercury outboard, was towing Occupant 1 and 2 on a tube. V1 was being operated by O1 and occupied by Occupant 3 and 4.  Occupant 1 and 2 fell off the tube.  When the boat circled around, a life jacket on the deck of the vessel was blown by the wind, distracting the operator.  
  
  Operator was inattentive of his surroundings, did not maintain full control of the vessel and failed to maintain a proper lookout.  While he was distracted, the vessel collided with Occupant 2, who was in the water wearing a type 3 PFD.  Occupant 2 was struck by the vessel and propeller sustaining lacerations due to prop cuts on the right side of his back.  He was brought by occupants of the boat to Pointe Coupee General in New Roads, LA and then air lifted to Our Lady of the Lake in Baton Rouge, LA.  These injuries were non life threating and was sent into surgery for the cuts to be cleaned and stitched.  Standardized Field Sobriety was conducted on the operator and no signs of impairment were observed.  The incident is categorized as a person struck by a propeller.  Charges of careless operation are pending.