LIVINGSTON — Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries agents have made an arrest in connection with the deadly boat wreck that occurred in July on the Tickfaw River. Jason Chaisson, 34, of Holden, has been arrested and charged with nine counts: seven felonies and two misdemeanors.
The arrest follows a fatal crash involving a 25-foot pontoon party barge and a 25-foot Sea Fox boat near Kings Point in Livingston Parish around midnight on July 28. WLF agents say that Chaisson was driving the Sea Fox at the time of the collision.
Thuy Gustin and Chase Sharkey, who was operating the pontoon, died in the wreck. Six others, three from each boat, were transported to North Oaks Hospital in Hammond with injuries ranging from broken bones to head trauma. Four people remained hospitalized for weeks following the crash.
Officials told UWK that investigators had to await toxicology screenings for Sharkey and Chaisson, which is standard protocol in fatal crashes. The results, which took several weeks to process, led to Chaisson’s arrest Thursday.
He’s charged with five counts first-degree vehicular negligent injury, two counts vehicular homicide, DWI second offense and careless operation. He is being held without a bond until he can see a judge.
Vehicular homicide brings a $2,000 to $15,000 fine and five to 15 years in jail for each offense of which at least three years will be served without the benefit of probation, parole or benefit of suspension of sentence. First-degree vehicular negligent injury carries up to a $2,000 fine and five years in jail for each offense.
Second offense of DWI carries a $500 to $1,000 fine, 30 days to six months in jail and suspension of a driving license for up to four years. Carless operation of a vessel carries up to a $300 fine and 30 days in jail.
Chaisson’s previous arrest for driving while intoxicated
UWK searched Jason Chaisson’s criminal history in Livingston Parish and discovered a previous DWI arrest from April 30, 2023. During that incident, Chaisson was nearly twice the legal limit when he was arrested for his first-offense DWI.
In the earlier case, Chaisson was accused of speeding and weaving in and out of his lane on Hwy. 43 in Springfield, Livingston Parish, just before 1 a.m. After a traffic stop, the responding deputy reported smelling alcohol from the vehicle and noticing that Chaisson’s speech was slurred. Chaisson was arrested and charged with operating a vehicle while intoxicated and improper lane usage. His blood alcohol content was found to be 0.154, nearly twice the legal limit of 0.08 in Louisiana.
Chaisson pleaded not guilty to the charges, and that case is still ongoing in the Livingston Parish court system.
MORE FROM UWK ON TICKFAW CRASH
- Remembering the two victims
- Blood drive & gofundme’s available for some of passengers involved in crash
- Charges likely in deadly boat crash on Tickfaw
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One Response
The jail time is not enough nor are the fines but the civil suits coming are going to be huge!
Sentencing should be served consecutively not concurrently so he will plenty of time. 5-15 years for these deaths are just wrong. It should be a life sentence period!