The St. John the Baptist Parish Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue Team rescued five boaters on Sunday night (March 22, 2026) after their vessel struck an unknown object and began taking on water. Minutes after the SJSO team got the last person on board the Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue boat, the vessel capsized and submerged under Lake Pontchartrain.
No injuries were reported.
The SJSO responded to a 911 call at 8:35 p.m. regarding a 23-foot boat taking on water near the Manchac Lighthouse in St. John Parish with five adults—three women and two men—on board.
The Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue Team located the sinking vessel at 9:16 p.m. and observed the passengers on board in rapidly rising water currently at their ankles. The three women left the sinking vessel and boarded the SJSO search and rescue vessel.
By 9:31 p.m., as water reached their knees, the two men boarded the Sheriff’s Office boat. Shortly after the vessel capsized and began to fully submerge under the surface.
The five people were later transferred from the SJSO’s Search and Rescue vessel to a relative’s boat.