RedactedNarrative: On July 2, 2016, at approximately 7:21 am, Operatorv1 and Passengerv1 were fishing on the Cane River in Natchitoches Parish. They were fishing approximately 330 feet up river from the Starlight Bed and Breakfast. They were fishing in LA vessel #1 which is a 17-foot Ranger bass boat. Passengerv1 states that they left to go fishing at 5:30am. Sunrise on this day was at 6:11am. They got to the area of Starlight Bed and Breakfast at 5:57am. She states when they got to the area, they observed what appeared to be a blue and white ski boat that had appeared to of come untied from Starlight Bed and Breakfast and was floating in the water. They started to fish in the bend just up river from Starlight Bed and Breakfast. The bend where they were fishing is a very shape bend in the river and it is approximately 180-degree turn.  The area where they were fishing is approximately 276 feet of navigable water. They saw someone jump into the water from Starlight Bed and Breakfast to recover the vessel and drove it back to Starlight Bed and Breakfast.  .        The blue and white vessel they saw was LA vessel #2 that is a 1998 19 foot 6 inch Mastercraft Pro Star 190. It is powered by a Vortec MX 5.7 inboard engine rated at 298 horsepower, and is owned by Operatorv2. 
      While Operatorv1 and Passengerv1 were fishing, another vessel was fishing close by. That vessel was LA vessel #3 occupied by Witness1, Witness2, and a juvenile male. Witness1 stated to me that they was not in the bend when LA vessel #2 came by that they were farther up river. He did state that when LA vessel #2 came by that nothing was unusual about its operations.  
     After a while of fishing, Passengerv1 states that LA vessel #2 left Starlight Bed and Breakfast and headed up river. She states that the vessel drove over their fishing lines and caused a wake rocking their vessel.  After LA vessel #2 drove by another vessel came to the area and started fishing. This was Witness3 and Witness4. Both vessels were fishing along the inside of the bend approximately 25 feet from the bank.  Witness3 was approximately 50 yards down river from Operatorv1. After a little while, they heard music and a loud engine coming towards their location. The vessel came around the bend on plane and collided with Operatorv1 and Passengerv1, ejecting Operatorv1 into the water.     
     When LA vessel #2 made impact with LA vessel #1 Operatorv1 was on the bow of the vessel and Passengerv1 was on the stern.  Passengerv1, Witness3 and Witness4 all stated that they was yelling and waving their arms when LA vessel #2 came around the bend.  All of the witnesses state that LA vessel #2 never slowed down before impact. Passengerv1 states that she could only see the top of Operatorv2’s head.  
      LA vessel #2 made impact with LA vessel #1 on the starboard side forward of the drivers console.  LA vessel #2 then angled to the right and traveled across the bow of LA vessel #1 where Operatorv1 was fishing. The vessel stopped in the grass next to the bank but before it travel to Witness3’s vessel who was fishing next to Operatorv1. 
     After the collision, Witness3 stated to me that Operatorv2 was standing on the aft section of LA vessel #2 and had to yell at Operatorv2 to go help. Operatorv2 then jumped into the water to assist Operatorv1.  Operatorv1 was wearing a type II PFD and it did inflate and brought Operatorv1 to the surface. Passengerv1 called Operatorv1’s family member to tell her an accident had happen. At 7:22 am, the family member called 911.   
    Operatorv2 stated to me that the purpose of his trip was to go for a boat ride.  He left the Starlight Bed and Breakfast and traveled to the Parkway and back which he states is a 10-minute trip. He stated that he saw vessel fishing at the bend when he departed.  He stated that he was cruising at approximately 3500 rpms at ¼ throttle. He said when he came around the bend that the sun was bright and in his eyes and he did not see the other vessel fishing. He stated to me that he did see a vessel to his left when he came around the bend but did not see Operatorv1’s vessel. 
     I was contacted by the Natchitoches Parish Sheriff Office at 7:24am about a boating accident on the Cane River at Starlight Bed and Breakfast.   At 7:32am, I was contacted again by Natchitoches stating that a fatality had occurred from the boating accident.  I then contacted Lt#1 and made him aware of the accident.  I arrived on scene approximately 7:45am and Lt#1 arrived approximately 8:05am. 
        When I arrived on scene Natchitoches Sheriff Office and EMS was already on scene. Both vessels were in the water in the bend next to bank.  When Lt#1 arrived, he went out to the vessels and I interviewed Operatorv2.  I made close personal contact with Operatorv2, perform the Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus, his pupils were normal and got zero clues.  Operatorv2 then filled out a voluntary statement about the incident.  
        Lt#1 and Natchitoches Deputies were able to drive the vessels back to Starlight Bed and Breakfast. Operatorv2 went into his vessel to retrieve paperwork. At no time did Operatorv2 stumble, have problems locating anything in his vessel or have issues using his fingertips or fine motor skills. He was also able to navigate the staircase at the Starlight Bed and Bedfast without issue. I did not smell any odor of alcohol beverages coming from Operatorv2. By observing these things I feel impairment was not a factor.  
    We were unable to get Operatorv1 safely up the staircase at the Starlight Bed and Breakfast so we loaded him in a vessel and transported him to Point Place Mariner.  Both vessels were driven to Point Place to be loaded on trailers. Lt#1 drove LA vessel #2 from Starlight Bed and Breakfast to Point Place Mariner. He stated that the steering and operations of the vessel were in working order and found no defects. 
    When we arrived at Point Place Marine, both vessels were loaded on trailers for a closer inspection.  I took Operatorv2 and interviewed him some more in my unit. After interviewing him for approximately 30 minutes in the front seat of my unit with the air conditioning on, I did not see or smell any signs of impairment.  
  Lt#1 and I went to this address and I performed a damage inspection on the vessel.  On the starboard side is a laceration at approximately a 45-degree angle approximately 87 ½ inches from the bow. This damage also caused wires to become exposed and tore the top of the gunwale.  There was also fracture damage on the starboard gunwale with wires exposed that was approximately 44 inches from the bow. The depth finder mounted next to the drivers console was broken and the window shield on the drivers console was missing. There was also a small fracture on this driver’s console.
       On the port side approximately 47 ½ inches from the bow is a laceration. On the deck the pedestal for the front seat was bent. There were also several broken fishing rods on the front deck. 
     On July 5, 2016, I went to xxx Hart Rd to inspect LA vessel #2.  The vessel was parked under a cover carport. The vessel had major scuffmarks on the keel under the bow on the V of the hull.  On the bow eye there was fiberglass in the bolt of the bow eye and paint transfer on the bow eye and around the bow eye. At the stern of the vessel, there was paint transfer on the port fin of the rotor. There was also paint transfer on the propeller and paint transfer on the bracket that holds the shaft going to the propeller. On the port side of the vessel, there was a cut in the fiberglass approximately 19 inches in length. There was also a small abrasion on the port side where the keel begins approximately 76 inches from the bow. There was also a one small round damage to the fiberglass. 
     This vessel on the keel has four tracking fins. The first fin is approximately 116 inches from the bow. The fins are approximately 6 inches ap