Boat crash causes bad damage

Published 12:11 am Thursday, October 1, 2015

FERRIDAY — An early morning boat crash Saturday caused significant damage to a Lake Concordia boathouse and landed a Sontag man in jail.

Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Public Information Officer Adam Einck said George Walker, 43, of 3936 Fugler Loop, Sontag, reportedly struck a private boathouse on the Lake Concordia’s west bank at approximately 1 a.m. Saturday.

Einck said the 19-foot aluminum boat struck the boathouse, uprooting boards and causing the roof to collapse. Walker, who was not seriously injured, left the boat and called his wife to pick him up.

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Another resident on the lake heard the accident and called 911. Officers ran the boat’s registration numbers and determined the boat was a rental.

Officers contacted the rental agency, who told them how to get into contact with Walker. Einck said Walker admitted to crashing the boat and refused medical attention, although in subsequent days Einck said Walker checked into a hospital with injuries such as bruises and scrapes.

Officers gave Walker a breathalyzer and a field sobriety test, both of which Einck said Walker failed.

“Our officers determined that he was over the legal limit for alcohol,” Einck said. “He was charged with a DWI and also reckless operation of a water craft.”

Walker was booked into the Concordia Parish Sheriff’s Office Saturday and released on a $2,300 bond the same day.

Einck said the incident is still under investigation. More charges could be pending, Einck said.