On October 30th 2023 at approximately 8:47 A.M., Sergeant received a call from the 911 Dispatch informing him of a boat incident in which a vessel was taking on water at Vermilion Bay near Cypremort Point in St. Mary Parish. Agt. responded to the incident and coordinated with the St. Mary Sheriff's Office who was also responding. Upon arriving at the Quintana Canal Boat Launch Agt. identified the operator of the vessel (a remote steer) as Operator (see image 1 of photograph log). Operator informed Agt. that he was asked by an unidentified person to assist a kayaker that was out of control due to the kayak's fin drive being broken and the strong winds and waves overpowering the kayak. 

Operator and his son (a Juvenile) tried to help the kayak operator with their vessel by trying to tow Subject1's kayak to a safe area. Operator claimed that while trying to assist Subject1 a wave came over the stern of the boat and into the electrical system. He stated that after the first initial wave the boat shut off and they started taking on water. The waves which were noted by Agt. upon arrival, were high (approximately 2 to 3 feet) with strong winds (approximately 15 to 20 mph) over the area (see images 3 and 4 of photograph log). Operator claimed that after the initial wave shut the electric system off, the following waves started filling the stern of the boat with water until they (Operator, his son, and Subject1) were forced to evacuate the vessels.

         Agt. then made contact with Subject1, who stated that his fin drive on his kayak had broken and was unable to control his kayak due to the inclement weather. Subject1 stated that an unidentified kayaker had tried to help him but was unable to assist him. The unknown kayaker then went to search for help and asked Operator for assistance. That's when Operator tried to help and the flooding of the vessel occurred. Operator and his son as well as Subject1 put on life jackets and were able to get on shore and were later assisted by the St. Mary Sheriff's Office Deputies who with their vessel brought them to the boat launch. It is to be noted that no one claimed to be injured or required medical attention. After taking their statements (see attached statements) Subject1 and Agt. proceeded to search for the flooded vessel.

        Once the vessel was found Agt. was able to observe how the vessel was partially grounded with the back of the stern flooded and waves coming up and over the stern. Agt. documented the necessary information. Subject1 asked Agt. for assistance pulling his Kayak to his truck. The Kayak was located next to the shore a few feet next to Operator's vessel. Agt. then assisted Subject1 by pulling his kayak and then helping him load in into his truck. During this process Agt. observed how the fin system in Subject1's kayak was broken. During the investigation Agt. talked to a technician at Iberia Outboard & Marine Services, the place where Operator's vessel was brought to after being taken out of the water. The technician informed Agt. that Operator's vessel was a four stroke motor and that if water gets in the battery terminals it can cause the electric system to shut off and therefore the boat to shut off. This information validated Operator's statement that a wave had come over the stern and had sh ut off the electric system. 

        Drugs and or alcohol are not contributing factors of this incident. Personal flotation devices were present and used in both the vessel and the Kayak. Contributing factors to this incident are attributed to the Weather (high waves approximately 2 to 3 feet and strong winds 15 to 20 mph), Failure of Machinery (electric System shutting off after water contacted the battery terminals), and Operator Inexperience. Agt. believes Operator was lacking navigational experience in those weather conditions (high waves and strong winds). The type of incident is considered to be a flooding type of incident with eventual grounding. No further enforcement action was deemed necessary.

vermillion bay
Franklin                      