On February 25, 2023 at approximately 1:00am, a 19’ aluminum airboat was traveling north at ~20-30mph in Crazy Cut Bayou of the Trinity River marsh system. the vessel was above the transitional planing speed for this vessel. The vessel was nearing the area where it connects to Long Island Bayou. The airboat was operated and occupied by three additional adult, male passengers. According to occupant statements, they had left one of the river camp houses on Crazy Cut just before 1:00am to return to the boat ramp. 

After leaving the river camp house, they travel ~1.3 miles north, until they impacted the tree on the shoreline. This section of Crazy Cut had an ~ 90° right hand turn before entering the confluence of Old River Cutoff and Long Island Bayou. All of the occupants on the vessel were consuming alcohol the night of crash. 

The airboat impacted the tree on the shoreline at ~165° +/-5° of the shoreline. Upon impact the aluminum grass rack bent inward ~ 24” and the bow pitched upward as it engaged up the tree trunk/branches until the forward momentum temporarily ceased. This airboat was not equipped with an engine cutoff switch so post-incident, the unmanned airboat circled to the right and pushed up against the bank approximately 50 feet to the west of the impact site. During the impact, all of the occupants were rapidly thrown forward due to inertia. The two occupants seated up top and the passenger seated on the bottom right were all ejected out of the vessel. The occupant, was seated in the bottom left seat and was thrown forward into the front bow of the vessel and likely struck the tree as well. He sustained serious bodily injury to his spine from the impact. 

After the incident, they recovered the vessel and climbed back into it. One called 911 and Operator drove them to Fort Anahuac Park so his father could receive medical attention. Injured 1 was transported by ambulance to St. Elizabeth’s Hospital in Beaumont, TX where he underwent spinal surgery on 2/25/23.  Before surgery he was partially paralyzed in his lower extremities. Post-surgery, he was able to feel and move both legs. At the completion of this investigation, he was continuing rehabilitation at home. 

Based on all the physical evidence and witness statements, this collision was a result of multiple state law and navigation rule violations by the operator. Operator was highly intoxicated at the time of the crash and was operating at an excessive speed for the conditions and circumstances that night and without a proper lookout. He was operating in a way that put his vessel and other vessels at substantial risk of damage and injury to passengers. The vessel was traveling above planing speed at the time of the collision and the speed of the vessel increased the severity of damage to the vessel and the severe injuries sustained. 

No PFDs were worn or used during this incident.
1592 TRINITY RIVER
Wallisville                   