On July 29th 2023, at approximately 2:30 P.M., Lt. received a call from LDWF Dispatch informing agents of a boat incident in Bayou Long in Stephenville, which is located in St. Martin Parish. Lt. was the first Agent to respond. Upon arrival, Lt. informed Sergeant and Agent of the incident. Sgt. and Agt. responded to the call at 2:47 P.M. While en route to the incident location, Agt. was directed by Lt. to head to the Amelia Public Boat Launch, located in St. Mary Parish, where the operator and owner of the vessel was going to pick up. Agt. arrived at the Amelia Public Boat Launch at approximately 3:54 P.M. and made contact with the operator. Agt. proceeded to advise Operator3 of his Miranda Rights, which were read from the card, was understood and freely waived. 

       Operator3 informed Agt. that he and three other subjects were attempting to move a house boat along Bayou Long, heading north. The house boat used two vessels, a 19' Remote Steered Skiff (Vessel 3)) which Operator3 was operating at the time of the incident and an unmanned 14' Remote Steered John Boat (Vessel 1). Vessel 1 was located on the starboard side of the house boat and Vessel 3 was located on the port side. The vessels were used as means of propulsion for the house boat. Operator3 claimed that all the people assisting with the transportation of the house boat were inside the house boat. Since he was the only lookout he was unable to properly see anything along the starboard side where Vessel 1 was located. During the process of moving the house boat, Operator3 maneuvered the house boat to starboard but was too far to the right causing Vessel 1 to collide with some pylons and another vessel.

       V1 collided with 3 pylons and continued to run unmanned hitting a stationary 20’ Remote Steered Seaark Vessel (Vessel 2) that was tied in a slip. V1 disconnected, it made a loop and came to a stop in between the motor of V2 and the furthest pylon where it was eventually turned off by a witness.  Operator3 switched vessels after the collision. He switched from Vessel 3 that was operated in the transportation of the house boat to V1 (his boat), which he operated to Bayou Vista Boat launch. 

After the collision, V1 sustained damages including a big dent  approximately 8” long on the bow followed by another dent extending 10 inches with peeled metal on the starboard side, a scratch and dent on the port side extending from 47” to 69”, a broken handle on the stern port side, and a dent and scratch on the starboard side. As well as other small scratches, and dents thought the vessel’s body.  There were damages to 4 pylons including deep gouges on the first pylon and dents on the second, third and fourth pylons.

       As a result of V1 impacting V2, a cleat was ripped off from the dock. This cleat was holding Vessel 2 in place. The impact also caused a dent with paint transfer from V2 to a 4th pylon, V2 sustained some damages including a scratch to the engine midsection, possible problems in the steering mechanism and a small dent caused by V2 hitting a pylon.   

        Since Operator3 was the operator of Vessel 3, it was his responsibility to maintain a proper lookout, something that he failed to do. Lt. who arrived on scene first, took pictures and voluntary statements (see attached voluntary statements). No alcohol or drugs caused or were contributing factors for this incident. PFDs were present in the damaged vessel but were not used. This incident is a 3 vessel, one operator incident. In my opinion and experience, the contributing factors in this boat incident are, no proper lookout and failing to maintain control of vessel. Operator3 violated rules of the road number 20 and 16. Rule number 20, fail to maintain a proper look out and rule 16, which states that all vessels shall be operated at reasonable speeds for given conditions and situations and must be under the complete control of the operator at all times. These violations are prima facie evidence of careless operation. Operator3 was cited for violating Lousiana Revised Statue 34:851.4 -Careless Operation (failing to maintain a proper lookout and fail to maintain complete control of vessel)

Bayou Long
Stephensville                 