TX Game Wardens Investigate Boating Accident

AVINGER, TX — Officials with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department are investigating a fatal boating accident that left two Hallsville Boy Scouts dead, and another injured Saturday.

Officials with he Texas Game Warden's Office said three East Texas teens on a Boy Scout outing, collided with an overhead transmission power line on a catamaran and were electrocuted.

The three boys, ages 11, 16 and 18, were members of Boy Scout Troop 620 from Hallsville, Texas, and all three were wearing life vests at the time of the accident.

Game wardens arrived at the Alley Creek area of Lake O’ The Pines, shortly before 2 p.m. Saturday to find a Hobiecat Catamaran on fire with the sails up about 300 yards north of the power lines.

Wardens discovered an 18-year-old male onboard and a 16-year-old in the water a short distance away.

Both victims suffered severe bodily injuries and were deceased.

A third unresponsive 11-year-old victim was located in a boat nearby and was being provided CPR by good Samaritans.

He was transported to LSU Medical Center-Shreveport, LA. The accident is being investigated by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s statewide boating accident reconstruction and mapping team. Victim identification is not being released at this time.

Image Via US Army Corps of Engineers