The body of a Houma man was recovered from the Intracoastal Waterway in St. Mary Parish this morning, Oct. 6, by search and rescue officials.
Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Enforcement Division (LDWF) agents and St. Mary Sheriff’s Office (SMSO) deputies found the body of Wallace Bailey Jr., 38, at approximately 6:30 a.m. after searching throughout the night.
Officials were notified at 9 a.m. about a boating incident in in the Intracoastal Waterway near the intersection of Bayou Boeuf.
According to witnesses, Wallace Bailey Jr. was operating a small aluminum skiff with a hand tiller steering motor with his father Wallace Bailey Sr., 64, of Morgan City, as the passenger. The skiff crossed a wake and quickly turned ejecting both men into the water and sinking the vessel.
Witnesses were able to pull Bailey Sr. from the water and Bailey Jr. sank below the water and didn’t resurface.
LDWF will be the lead investigative agency for this incident. Neither man was wearing a personal flotation device. Bailey Jr’s body was turned over to the St. Mary Parish Coroner’s Office.
For more information, contact Adam Einck at 225-765-2465 or aeinck@wlf.la.gov.