Personal injury lawyer is probed by Louisiana sheriff's office after boat 'he was driving' struck three children tubing on river and injured them before fleeing the scene
A personal injury lawyer is being probed by Louisiana state authorities after allegedly striking three children who were tubing while he drove his boat, before fleeing the scene.
The occupants on the party barge all fled the scene after the Aug. 8 crash at False River in New Roads, Pointe Coupee Parish Sheriff Rene Thibodeaux told WBRZ-TV.
They did so despite two of the children in the crash requiring hospital treatment.
The victims, said to be aged between eight and 14, included an eight-year-old who was flown to the Baton Rouge hospital via AirMed with a broken pelvis, according to WAFB 9.
WBRZ says one man and some teenagers were on the boat at the time. They say he is a local personal injury lawyer, who has not been identified, and has yet to comment.
Pointe Coupee Sheriff's Office have been asked why no charges have been brought against the lawyer, but say it is now in the hands of state investigators.
Witness accounts were able to identify the boat involved in the crash to the police and said there were five juveniles and an adult on the boat.
An unidentified man was seen inspecting a boat on False River the day after the boating accident happened
A similar boat is pictured driving on the False River the day of the crash
This is the moment the AirMed helicopter landed near False River. An eight-year-old was airlifted to a Baton Rouge hospital with a broken pelvis after the accident
The sheriff stated that one of the adults, an attorney in the Lafayette area, who was the boat was located in his home.
State wildlife agents were able to located the adult.
The boat driver admitted to police that he was on False River that day, but didn't give an explanation as to why he rushed home. It has also been reported that the man refused a sobriety test, according to KATC 3.
Local news groups have been inundated with gossip about the incident, with many residents claiming to know the name of the man involved. DailyMail.com has contacted the sheriff's office for further information.
The Sheriff said the police have passed on the case to the state Department of Wildlife and Fisheries for the investigation
The sheriff believes the motorboat might have hit the children after getting into the path right behind the boat pulling the children on the tube.
The investigation has been turned over to the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries because it happened on False River, Thibodeaux said.
In a statement, the agency said that its investigation is ongoing and agents are gathering statements from witnesses and those involved in the crash.
A day later, a man was seen inspecting the boat that was thought to have caused the crash.
The sheriff admitted to he flagged traffic until 6pm before the helicopter left the grounds, he told WBRZ 2. He believes the man was back in Lafayette by six or 6.30pm.
'Charges may be pending upon completion of the investigation,' the agency said.
The man has not been charged with anything yet, not even for leaving a crime scene.
The state department of wildlife and fisheries said they are still collecting statements and the investigation is ongoing.