On October 22, 2023 at approximately 2:10 p.m., I, Cpl. received a call from the Union Parish Sheriffs Office of a fatality boating accident on Lake Darbonne. At approximately 2:30 p.m. I arrived on scene with several deputies from the Sheriff's Office. Deputy and myself launched my boat and arrived on scene of the accident.

              I made contact with the operator and identified myself as a Louisiana Wildlife Enforcement Agent. I advised Operator of his Maranda Warning and he stated he understood. Operator said he was traveling north in the boat channel, when his vessel struck a green channel marker on the left side of his vessel. 

His passenger was ejected from the vessel and his head struck the channel marker. Operator was thrown into the bottom of his vessel but did not receive any injuries. Operator vessel was a console steering boat. Union Parish S.O. and I secured Operator and the vessel for evidence collection and statements. No alcohol/drug use was detected or a determining factor of the accident. Evidence and statements were collected.

The Union Parish S.O. contacted the Macoupin County Sheriff’s Office in Illinois who made contact with the family of the deceased. Deputy Coroner arrived on scene and pronounced victim as deceased. Pafford ambulance transported him to the morgue for an autopsy. 

              After completing my investigation it was determined that the leading cause of the accident was restricted vision of the operator. At the time of the accident there was two fishing chairs and a fishing graph on the front deck of Operator vessel that restricted his vision. Both the operator and passenger were wearing their life jackets at the time of the accident. The speed of Operator vessel was also a factor and caused extensive damage to the vessel. Operator was cited for Reckless Operation of a Watercraft and released.

Lake Darbonne
Farmerville                   