LDWF agents investigating two fatal boating incidents

Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) enforcement agents are investigating a fatal boating incident in Pointe Coupee Parish that occurred on March 13.

The body of Larry J. Deville, 61, of Ville Platte, was recovered on March 13 around 2 p.m.  The body of Larry L. Lefleur, 76, of Ville Platte, was recovered on March 15 around 12 p.m.

LDWF agents were notified about an abandoned 17-foot vessel in the vicinity of the Atchafalaya Port in Pointe Coupee Parish on March 13 around 11 a.m. LDWF agents immediately responded to the scene and conducted a search for Deville and Lefleur.

It is unknown at this time what caused the men to enter the water. LDWF will be the lead investigative agency for this fatal boating incident. Both men were found without wearing a personal flotation device.

The Pointe Coupee Parish Sheriff’s Office, Chustz Services and the Southeast Louisiana Underwater Search and Recovery also participated in the search.

Ouachita Parish

Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries enforcement agents are also investigating a boating fatality that occurred on March 11 in Ouachita Parish.

The body of Earl Clack, 48, of Bastrop, was recovered from Black Bayou around 7 a.m. on March 17.

LDWF agents were notified on March 11 around 3:30 p.m. about two men being ejected from their 14-foot vessel into Black Bayou in Monroe. The operator of the vessel was rescued by a good Samaritan shortly after the incident. Clack never resurfaced and authorities immediately began searching for him.

According to the survivor, he was operating the vessel with a tiller steer handle when they hit a wake causing the kill switch to detach from the motor and shutting the motor off. The vessel then took a hard turn and both subjects were ejected into the water.

LDWF will be the lead investigative agency for this fatal boating incident. Clack was not wearing a personal flotation device when he was recovered. The operator was wearing a personal flotation device at the time of the incident. Clack’s body was turned over to the Ouachita Parish Coroner’s Office.