Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) enforcement agents are investigating a fatal boating incident that occurred this morning, Feb. 19, on the Toledo Bend Reservoir in Sabine Parish.
The boating incident claimed the life of David W. McManus, 74, of Iowa.
According to eye witnesses and survivors of the incident two vessels were leaving out to go fishing from their camp in the Negreet Creek area around 7:15 a.m. When the lead boat got up on plane it left a wake that caused the second boat to pitch violently ejecting McManus and the passenger into the water.
In the process of circling back to help McManus and his passenger, the lead vessel struck the now empty 15 foot aluminum vessel that was circling the men in the water. The lead vessel was able to retrieve McManus who was unresponsive. A local fishermen who was nearby was able to retrieve the passenger from the water. The rescuers were then able to get back to the shore, call 911 for help and render aid to the unresponsive McManus.
First responders pronounced McManus dead at the shore. The passenger was airlifted to University Health Hospital in Shreveport and was listed in stable condition. McManus’ body was turned over to the Sabine Parish Coroner’s Office to determine the official cause of death.
When LDWF agents arrived on the scene they were able to get control of the empty vessel and recover it from the water.
LDWF will be the lead investigative agency for this boating incident. Neither McManus nor his passenger were wearing personal flotation devices or a kill switch.