Man sentenced to prison for 2024 Tickfaw River boat crash that left two dead

BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First) — Jason Chaisson Jr., the man arrested in connection with a deadly boating crash on the Tickfaw River in July 2024, has been sentenced to prison.

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) responded to a crash near Kings Point that involved a 25-foot Sea Fox boat operated by Chaisson and a 25-foot pontoon boat. The collision overturned both vessels.

Rescuers found Thuy Gustin, 31, pinned under the Sea Fox, and she later died at the hospital. Emergency responders pronounced Chase Sharkey, 36, dead at the scene. Several others sustained severe injuries.

Investigators determined that Chaisson was impaired when he crashed into the pontoon boat.

On Aug. 1, Chaisson received a sentence for two counts of negligent homicide and five counts of negligent injuring. The judge gave him five years for each homicide charge. These sentences will be served one after the other. However, he will only serve one year for each count. He received six months for each injury charge. These sentences will run at the same time as the others.

In total, Chaisson will serve two years in prison. He is also required to complete a substance abuse evaluation, attend a driver improvement course, and participate in a victim impact panel.

LDWF initially booked Chaisson on two counts of vehicular homicide, five counts of first-degree vehicular negligent injury, second-offense DWI while operating a vessel, and careless operation.

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