3 Texans, 2 from Louisiana Found Dead

New Orleans, Louisiana --

The Houston Chronicle Reported that "three Houston-area men and two Louisiana residents were found dead early Thursday after their fishing boat slammed into a barge along a canal southwest of New Orleans."

Apparently, the boat and the barge collided, killing all five on board the boat.
Sheriff’s officials identified the local victims as Rene Gauthier, 59, of Houston; Lawrence Flak, 54, of Conroe, and Katy resident William Voss, 49. The two Louisiana victims were Michael Carrere, 43, of Bayou Blue, and Carey Meche, 52, of Metairie.
Usie said his agency is assisting Louisiana’s Department of Wildlife and Fisheries in the investigation. He didn’t know how the victims were discovered.
Capt. Samuel Martin of Wildlife and Fisheries told the Houma Courier that workers tending to the barge found the men’s boat. The men, he said, likely died from injuries received upon impact. He said he was unsure whether the group wore life vests.