Vermilion River accident involves local man

Lafayette — A 24-year-old man with St. Martin ties is undergoing surgery on two broken legs after a boating accident Tuesday night on the Vermilion River here that claimed the life of his fiancee.

Officials identified the injured man as Trent Poche, son of Malcolm and Camille Poche of Cypress Island.

The dead woman was identified as Rebekah Anne Samson, 24, of Scott.

The boat’s pilot, identified as Richard Dooley, 43, of Lafayette, received cuts, bruises and lacerations and a possible neck injury, according to the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, which is investigating.

Alcohol may have been a factor in the accident, officials said.

The accident happened when the 16-foot bass boat the trio was riding in apparently struck something in the water. The woman was thrown from the boat and died from her injuries at the scene.

Earlier reports that she was a native of Pakistan were incorrect. According to her obituary, she was a UL student from New Mexico, and the daughter of Pakistan natives.

The mishap was reported around 8:15 p.m. on March 11 after a resident in the Greenbriar area the Vermilion River heard someone calling for help on the water. Sheriff’s deputies responded to the scene and found the two men injured in the boat and the woman dead in the water.