LEONARD GRAY / L’Observateur / July 11, 2000

BLIND RIVER – Two boats collided in the Blind River July 7, and one man was found dead in the water.

Just after midnight on July 7 the St. James Parish Sheriff’s Officeresponded to a 911 call saying the two boats had collided near the Blind River Bar.

The boats were driven by Cary Brignac, 44, of Grand Point, and Darren Whitney, 28, of Lutcher, and Steven and Marcus Duhe of Gramercy were passengers in Whitney’s boat.

Brignac was thrown from his boat and found dead in the water 100 yards from the accident by responding St. James Parish sheriff’s deputies. Following the accident Whitney apparently found Brignac’s cell phone and made the emergency call.

Retired St. James sheriff’s deputy Hamilton Deroche, living near BlindRiver, responded to the scene, said Sheriff Willy Martin Jr. When deputiesarrived it was determined the accident occurred because the two drivers were unable to see each other in the dark.

Paul Robert, chief of investigations for Ascension Parish, reported that at the time of the accident Brignac was not wearing a life jacket. Brignacallegedly was driving east without running lights and had no other lighting devices in the boat, said Lt. David Hamner of the Louisiana Department ofWildlife and Fisheries.

Whitney and the Duhes were all found safe, with no apparent injuries.

Testing of the driver of the second boat revealed no apparent alcohol in his system. An alcohol test on Brignac is pending.Hamner said Whitney and Brignac were traveling from separate campsites when they collided.

“It’s strange for anyone to be out there at that time anyway, and it’s especially hard to see without running lights. It certainly gives theopportunity for accident,” he added.

Brignac’s body was transported to Riverview Hospital. An autopsy was tobe performed to determine the actual cause of death.

Brignac was the husband of Pamela Berger-Brignac and father of Tessi, Shelli and Aimee. He was a longtime employee of Brown & Root of Shell

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