Young girl reportedly not wearing life jacket when she was thrown from boat.
The search for a missing 12-year-old girl in Shell Beach following a boating accident Saturday (July 16) continued last night (July 17), the Louisiana Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries reported.
The operation began after LDWF agents responded to a two-vessel collision between a 20-foot boat operated by Folsom’s Marion Funchess, 61, and a 15-foot boat operated by 48-year-old Paul Battle of Mandevile in Shell Beach Bayou. The incident occurred about 5:30 p.m.
The child’s name has not been released.
Battle had four juvenile passengers on board, including the missing 12-year-old girl. Funchess had an adult passenger on board his boat.
All four juveniles were ejected from the Battle’s boat, with the three wearing lifejackets rescued by a third boat, St. Bernard Parish Chief Deputy Sherrif Jimmy Pohlmann told WWL-TV.
The missing girl reportedly was not wearing a life jacket.
Battle was not ejected from the boat, but was taken to the hospital with serious injuries. WWL-TV reported that the man could face charges because the missing girl was not wearing a life jacket, which is a violation of state law.
Funchess and his passenger did not receive any major injuries.
LDWF, U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Navy, St. Bernard, sheriff’s offices from St. Tammany and Plaquemines searched through the night and all day Sunday for the missing girl.
The search agencies continued to search until nightfall, and was set to resume the search at first light today (July 18).
LDWF will be the lead investigating agency for this boating crash incident.