I, Texas Game Warden, was not notified of this vessel crash when it occurred on July 4th, 2023, at approximately 9:40PM and I did not respond to the scene. This report is based on the five individuals involved that were on board the vessel the night of the crash. I was able to make contact with each of the five occupants by telephone.

According to statements obtained from the vessel occupants, the general consensus was that after the occupants were done watching fireworks that night, the vessel departed the Texas City Dike area and was traveling west, in the intra-coastal waterway, toward the diversionary canal located in Hitchcock, Tx where they had launched the boat earlier that day. 

The location of crash was just east of the I45 causeway bridge near Galveston, Tx. The vessel struck an east bound commercial tow barge which the operator stated he did not see until the last second. The operator attempted to make an evasive turn to his starboard side but was too late and struck the barge on the vessel's port bow area which resulted in the vessel capsizing. 

The vessels center console was subsequently ripped off. All five occupants were ejected from the vessel into the water. The commercial tow barge recovered all five vessel occupants out of the water. US Coast Guard sector Houston/ Galveston was notified and evacuated two of the occupants by helicopter and taken to UTMB hospital in Galveston, Tx. The remaining three occupants were transported to USCG station Galveston, then transported to UTMB hospital for medical attention. The use of alcohol on board the vessel prior to collision was reported by each individual, except the operator. However, 2 of the passengers on board stated that the operator had been consuming alcohol prior to the crash. PFDs were not worn and not used by any of the occupants.
2180 GALVESTON BAY
Galveston                     