A boat exploded on Old River on July 4, injuring five of the seven occupants, the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries reported.
Injured in the accident were 24-year-old Raina Brown of Baton Rouge; Todd Hymel, 27, of Baton Rouge; Chris Duet, 25, of Baton Rouge; Keith Silvio, 25, of Baton Rouge; and Dustin Musso, 28, of Baton Rouge.
Boat operator Matthew P. Wilkes, 26, and 23-year-old Allyson Marshall, both of Lakeland, were uninjured but had to be pulled from the water with the injured passengers by West Feliciana Parish Sheriff’s deputies.
LDWF agents responding to the scene found that Wilkes was operating a 19-foot ski boat when the engine compartment exploded for unknown reasons. Five of the passengers received third-degree burns on their legs and backs.
The injured were taken by Acadian Ambulance and Acadian Air Med to local hospitals for immediate medical treatment of their burns.
The accident is under investigation by LDWF’s Enforcement Division.
