RedactedNarrative: After frogging, Vessel 1(homemade unregistered) was being driven by the Operator and with 2 passengers aboard. At approximately 2:45 a.m., the vessel was heading back towards Dutch Bayou. Operating on plane, the smooth flat bottom vessel which is equipped with a 60 hp Mercury outboard engine (tiller handle) entered a right hand turn. Due to the speed and hull design Vessel 1 went into a lateral slide while turning resulting in Vessel 1 being on the far left side of the bayou. The lateral slide terminated immediately prior to Vessel 1 striking the remnants of an old cypress tree trunk that was located approximately 10-15 feet from the left shoreline of the bayou. Passenger 1 was ejected from the boat, not wearing a PFD. Passenger 2 entered the water attempting to retrieve Passenger 1 whom was struggling to swim in the center portion of the canal. Passenger 2 was unable to complete the rescue. Passenger 2 re-entered Vessel 1 and one of the men threw a Type IV PFD (throwable) in the direction of Passenger 1. Passenger 1 was unable to utilize the PFD. The operator and Passenger 2 attempted to start the vessel and search for Passenger 1 thinking he may have reached the bank. Passenger 1 had submerged in the water at the time. The operator called 911 to report the incident.
  St. John Parish Deputies and LDWF agents responded to the scene. The body of Passenger 1 was recovered nearby and was transported back to the boat launch where he was pronounced dead by the coroner. The operator and Passenger 2 were transported back to the boat launch and Vessel 1 was towed back to the launch by SJSO deputies. The operator voluntarily submitted to a blood draw by EMS.
  Primary contributing factor is excessive speed. Secondary contributing factor is operator inexperience. Tertiary contributing factor is rules of the road violation (operating on the wrong side of a narrow channel, and excessive speed). No evidence of intoxication was present for the operator at the time of contact with law enforcement.
  