This incident occurred in Attala County MS on the Big Black River on 07/20/2023 at approximately 7:00pm. Operator was operating a 14 ft. aluminum Tracker fishing boat with one person as an occupant. The river conditions were hazardous with flood conditions due to recent heavy rainfall and debris such as tree logs scattered throughout the river channel. The vessel contained two type III pfd's and recreational fishing gear later found floating down river from the incident location. Both subjects in the vessel were not wearing pfd's at the time of the incident. 

Operator stated he was operating the vessel when the strong river current pushed the Tracker boat into a log and it became stuck. Operator stated he attempted to use the outboard engine to power off of the log when this caused the stern section of the vessel to swamp resulting in the vessel capsizing. 

Upon capsizing, both Operator and Subject1 were ejected into the river water. Operator stated he was able to hold onto the log for 5-10 minutes while he watched Subject1 get swept down river in the current. 

Operator stated he observed Subject1 struggling to swim in the current but he was unable to do so and went underwater at which point he was not seen by Operator anymore. Operator stated he then swam to the bank and then walked to a nearby residence where he called local 911 for help. 

First responders and Officers with the MS Dept. of Wildlife Fisheries and Parks responded to the scene where they recovered the deceased body of Subject1 and recovered the swamped vessel with a patrol boat. Investigating Officers with MDWFP took statements from witnesses and Operator, documented the incident scene and completed their report the next day. The Attala County Coroner ruled the death of Subject1 a freshwater drowning. 

Operator was transported to local Baptist Memorial Hospital for injury complaints of ingestion of water and was released from the ER the same night of the incident. Officers concluded the contributing factors to this incident were a combination of operating a small underpowered vessel in hazardous river conditions and both subjects not wearing pfd's.

Big Black River
Caramck                       