Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Investigating Boat Crash that Claimed the Life of an Abbeville Man

Louisiana - The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) confirmed on December 5, 2022, that enforcement agents are investigating a fatal single-vessel accident that took place in Vermilion Parish on December 3.

On December 5, about 12:40 p.m., the body of Jeremy Stelly, 52, of Abbeville, Louisiana, was retrieved from the Hebert Canal. His remains were turned over to the Vermilion Parish Coroner's Office for an official cause of death determination.

LDWF agents, together with the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff's Office and the Vermilion Parish Sheriff's Office, were contacted early on December 4 about a boater who failed to return from his trip the day before. They launched an immediate search and discovered an unmanned 18-foot boat in the Hebert Canal. The search for Stelly went on all day and into the night.

LDWF agents believe Stelly was operating his vessel at the time when he attempted a tight turn and was ejected from the vessel.

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries will lead the investigation into this deadly boating accident. Stelly was found without a personal flotation device or an engine cutoff switch.