Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) enforcement agents are investigating a boating fatality that occurred on March 11 in Ouachita Parish.

The body of Earl Clack, 48, of Bastrop, was recovered from Black Bayou around 7 a.m., this morning on March 17.

LDWF agents were notified on March 11 around 3:30 p.m. about two men being ejected from their 14-foot vessel into Black Bayou in Monroe.  The operator of the vessel was rescued by a good Samaritan shortly after the incident.  Clack never resurfaced and authorities immediately began searching for him.

According to the survivor, he was operating the vessel with a tiller steer handle when they hit a wake causing the kill switch to detach from the motor and shutting the motor off.  The vessel then took a hard turn and both subjects were ejected into the water.

LDWF will be the lead investigative agency for this fatal boating incident.  Clack was not wearing a personal flotation device when he was recovered.  The operator was wearing a personal flotation device at the time of the incident.  Clack’s body was turned over to the Ouachita Parish Coroner’s Office.