Teenager killed in July 4 boating accident on Blind River; driver booked for DWI, car murder

LAW – A man has been arrested after a 17-year-old girl was killed in a July 4 boating accident in Livingston Parish.

Several law enforcement agencies were called to Blind River near the Diversion Canal Monday night after the teen, identified as Slidell’s Madison Bradley, fell from a pontoon boat.

“She’s my everything, she’s my best friend,” says Madison’s mother, Leigh-Ann Bradley.

“She loves life. She has a wonderful life, a great spirit to herself. She will do anything for anyone, it doesn’t matter,” Michael Bradley, father of Madison said.

The Department of Wildlife and Fisheries said she was standing over the guardrail at the front of the boat with another passenger when it hit the wake of another passing vessel. Both passengers fell out of the water, and Bradley was hit by the boat’s propeller.

Her body was restored later that day. The other passenger who fell out was not seriously injured.

The boatman, Dustin Crowe, 33, was arrested and booked into Livingston Parish Jail for vehicular homicide, DWI, and reckless sailing.

The girl’s death followed a number of deadly incidents on the water in and around the same area. Last week, three rowers drowned at Lake Maurepas, and another man drowned in the Diversion Canal just a few weeks before.

“I’ve been in this job for 40 years, and what I’ve learned is that you have a high year and you have a low year. Unfortunately, this is a high year,” said Sergeant Randy Lanoux.