After an incident on the False River, the Sheriff of Point Coupee Parish reminds residents to take boater safety courses

JARREAU – A teenager is recovering from serious injuries after being hit by a boat in the False River on Saturday.

Pointe Coupee Parish Sheriff Rene Thibodeaux said the 14-year-old victim was in the water when he was struck by the boat. He was flown by helicopter to a hospital in Baton Rouge.

Sheriff Thibodeaux said the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries is looking into the case. Several calls to the LDWF over the weekend and on Monday went unanswered.

“They’re probably going to be reconstructing this accident for two to three weeks and doing a very thorough investigation. And if there are charges, there will be charges,” said Sheriff Thibodeaux.

This is not the first major incident to occur on the False River. In recent years, Sheriff Thibodeaux has seen serious injuries and even deaths on the water. He said his agency offers boating safety classes and wishes more people in the community would take them.

“Be responsible! It’s like driving a car. You shouldn’t drive a boat while drunk. Designate a driver who doesn’t drink alcohol, maintain a safe speed and keep a safe distance from other boats. And you should always pay close attention when driving a boat,” he said.

WBRZ is still waiting for a response from LDWF.