Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) enforcement agents arrested the operator of a boat today, Aug. 22, for his involvement in a fatal boating incident in Livingston Parish.

LDWF agents arrested Jason Chiasson Jr., 34, of Holden for two counts of vehicular homicide, five counts of first-degree vehicular negligent injury, second offense of operating or driving a vessel while impaired (DWI) and careless operation of a vessel. Agents booked him into the Livingston Parish Jail.

Chiasson Jr. was the operator of a 25-foot Sea Fox vessel when he collided with a 25-foot pontoon boat shortly after midnight on July 28 in the Tickfaw River. Through the course of the investigation, agents have determined that Chiasson Jr. was impaired at the time of the collision.

The collision resulted in the deaths of a passenger on the Sea Fox, Thuy Gustin, 31, of Springfield, and the operator of the pontoon boat, Chase Sharkey, 36, of Greensburg. Two people on the Sea Fox and three people on the pontoon were taken to the North Oaks Hospital with serious injuries and have since been released.

Vehicular homicide brings a $2,000 to $15,000 fine and five to 15 years in jail for each offense of which at least three years will be served without the benefit of probation, parole or benefit of suspension of sentence. First-degree vehicular negligent injury carries up to a $2,000 fine and five years in jail for each offense.

Second offense of DWI carries a $500 to $1,000 fine, 30 days to six months in jail and suspension of a driving license for up to four years. Carless operation of a vessel carries up to a $300 fine and 30 days in jail.