On 7/28/2023, at approximately 2:00 p.m., Operator (Juvenile) was seated, operating vessel 1, a 2021, remote steer, 19 ft Skeeter Bass Boat, on Cane River. Occupant1 (Juvenile), a passenger, was seated to Operator's left in the passenger seat. 

The vessel was traveling through a right hand turn in the river at approximately 25-30 mph towards the city of Natchitoches. The operator steered the vessel to the middle of the channel while traveling through the curve and then began steering the vessel back to the north (right) side of the channel once through the curve. The operator then began manipulating the trim of the vessel just before the vessel was out of the turn and lost partial control of the steering. The vessel then traveled to the far right side of the river and struck a fixed boat house/dock on its starboard side. This caused extensive damage to the driver's console area and separated the top and bottom caps of the vessel. There was structural damage done to the dock from the collision. The vessel was then driven back to the boat ramp where it was loaded back onto the trailer and removed from the water. Both Operator and Occupant1 had only minor injuries from the impact. No medical attention was needed or given. Alcohol and drugs are not suspected to be contributing factors. Operator inexperience and Rules of the Road (#16) are suspected contributing factors. Both Operator and Occupant1 were wearing type 3 PFD's at the time of the incident. Operator does possess a valid boater's education certificate.

Cane River
Natchitoches                  