Shrimp boat capsizes while trawling Lake Pontchartrain, killing 1 and injuring another
A man is dead and another person is injured after their boat flipped while trawling for shrimp on Lake Pontchartrain early Thursday, Sept. 22, according to Louisiana authorities.
The U.S. Coast Guard found the missing men and their capsized boat between the twin span near the St. Tammany and Orleans Parish line after hours of searching, the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office wrote in a news release.
“They were trawling for shrimp and the trawl got tangled up, and he was trying to untangle it,” Lt. Joel Cromp with the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries told WWL-TV. “A wave came over the stern of the vessel and the vessel capsized.”
The 21-foot skiff launched from the Pointe Marina in Slidell around 8:45 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 21, and was reported overdue at 5:15 the following morning, according to the sheriff’s office. Initial reports said there were three boaters on board, but officials later clarified there were two.
Rick Hodgson, 62, of Pearl River died in the accident, WWL-TV and Nola.com reported, citing the St. Tammany Parish Coroner’s Office. The second boater hasn’t been identified publicly but is expected to be OK.
State wildlife officials, who are investigating the incident, said both men weren’t wearing life vests, according to WWL-TV.
“This is not the outcome we were hoping for and we ask all of our followers to please pray for the deceased family and friends,” authorities said in statement.
McClatchy News reached out to the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries on Thursday and was awaiting a response.
This story was originally published September 22, 2022 at 4:57 PM with the headline "Shrimp boat capsizes while trawling Lake Pontchartrain, killing 1 and injuring another."