Vessel 2, a 22'11" Ebbtide (remote steering) with a 5.0 inboard motor with three (3) passengers.  Vessel 2 was traveling East on Calcasieu River, in front of Vessel 1.  Vessel 1, a 21' Ranger (remote steering) with a 200 HP Yamaha also had four people onboard.  

Vessel 1 was also traveling East on the Calcasieu River.  Vessel 1 attempted to overtake Vessel 2 on Vessel 2's port side.  

Vessel 1 hit the wake on Vessel 2 causing Vessel 1 to pull into the port stern side of Vessel 2.   As V1 hit the wake of V2 the operator from Vessel 1 fell to his left side.  

A passenger from Vessel 2 ( sitting near the port stern in a seat) was flung forward approximately 6 feet, remaining inside the vessel and landing near the console.  This passenger suffered shoulder and hip pain and sought medical attention from Acadian Ambulance.  

One passenger, a minor, was wearing a PFD on Vessel1, however no other passenger on either V1 or V2 was wearing a PFD.  

This two  (2) vessel Collison's contributing factors are careless operation due to a violation of the Rules of the Road #2 which states the vessel overtaking another must yield to the right of way to the vessel being overtaken.  In addition to the Rules of the Road violation, the force of V2's wake was also a contributing factor.  

V1's operator was issued a citation under R.S. 34:851.4 (16) for Careless Operation of a watercraft.
Calcasieu River
Lake Charles                  