Man arrested in False River boating accident

BATON ROUGE, La. (WAFB) - Investigators say they have arrested a man in connection with a boating accident that left three children injured.

According to authorities they have arrested 64-year-old Chris Richard for felony hit and run, careless operation of a vessel and negligent injury.

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Richard has been booked into the Pointe Coupee Parish Jail.

Felony hit and run bring up to a $5,000 fine and 10 years in jail. Negligent injury carries up to a $500 fine and six months in jail. Careless operation of a vessel brings up to a $300 fine and 30 days in jail.

Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries agents started investigating a boating incident on the south end of False River on Aug. 8. Through the investigation, agents learned that Richard was operating a 20-foot pontoon boat at 4:25 p.m. when he collided with three juveniles being pulled on a tube from another vessel.

According to witnesses and those involved with the incident, Richard initially jumped in the water to check on the three juveniles, but then got back on his boat and left the scene to go back to his camp on False River and then home to Carencro. One of the juveniles in the tube suffered a fractured pelvis and was airlifted to Our Lady of the Lake Hospital in Baton Rouge.

Agents interviewed more than a dozen witnesses, some still at the scene after the incident and others were located days later.

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