LAKE ST. JOHN — One family began dealing with tragedy after a boat accident on Lake St. John Saturday while another could only stand by and wait.

Officials confirmed that longtime educator Bruce Pickle, 50, 4618 Louisiana 569, was killed early Saturday morning when his bass boat crashed into a pier on Lake St. John.

A second person, who may have been in the boat, is still missing at this time.

Onlookers who witnessed the crash found Pickle in the water after the crash, which occurred at approximately 12:15 a.m. He was ejected from the boat.

The witnesses attempted CPR, but Pickle’s body was later transferred to the Concordia Parish Coroner’s Office.

Pickle was most recently a math teacher and coach at Vidalia Junior High School.

Last season, he coached the VJHS football team to a 6-0 season.

Before coaching in Vidalia, Pickle coached girls’ basketball at his alma mater, Adams County Christian School in Natchez, for eight years.

The missing person is presumed to be Larry Allen, 52, 108 Pinehurst Cove, Pearl.

Concordia Parish Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Capt. David Hedrick said agents from the Department of Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries searched the water Saturday with a drag net to no avail.

Because of the danger presented by the pier structure, divers were not sent Saturday to search beneath pier, where it is most likely that the body is located if there is a second victim. Hedrick said a truck with hauling capabilities would lift the debris from the pier out of the area Sunday, so divers can safely search the area.

Allen’s family in Pearl was notified of the situation and confirmed that he was fishing with Pickle before the accident. Attempts by the family to call Allen’s cell phone failed when it went straight to voicemail, Hedrick said. Officials called all area hospitals in attempt to locate Allen and eliminate other options for his whereabouts, Hedrick said. But Allen had not checked in to any facility, and no one has heard from him.

The Allen family came to Lake St. John Saturday and stayed at a residence, where they will remain until Allen’s body is recovered or until he is found, Hedrick said.

Hedrick said officials believe Pickle was headed to his house just a half a mile from the accident scene when the boat struck the pier.

“The only thing we can (assume) is they were headed home, got too close to those piers and ran over one of them,” Hedrick said.

“It’s hard to tell where you’re at sometimes on that water.”

Wildlife and fisheries agents will do routine toxicology tests but do not suspect alcohol or drugs played a role in this incident at this time.

“When there’s a death, (authorities) always draw blood,” Hedrick said.

Pickle was not wearing a flotation device.

The accident occurred on the back side of the lake, half a mile from the victim’s house. Both the pier and boat involved in the accident received heavy damage.

The driver of the boat, Pickle, was originally reported to be alone during the accident. Hours later, it was reported that Allen was possibly in the boat with the victim.

A deputy will be on standby through the night, and the search will resume Sunday morning.

Officials from the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries investigated the accident with the help of the Concordia Parish Sheriff’s Office.