Collision severely injures fisherman after being thrown from bunk

Claims no one at the wheel, no bed railing

Christopher Loc Nguyen of Port Arthur, Texas has filed suit against Sanh Hong Le, his former employer, after the fishing boat he worked on collided with a barge in Jefferson County.

Nguyen cites physical pain, mental anguish, loss of income and continuous physical impairment after the impact knocked him out of his bunk while aboard The Jennifer and David.

The complaint filed recently in Jefferson County District Court alleges no one was at the wheel when the incident took place. The complaint also alleges that the crew member's beds lacked railings.

Nguyen charges that Le did not have a proper lookout and failed to yield right-of-way.

Named as a co-defendant is Gulf Oceanic Marine Contractors, Inc., the owner of the barge and tug boat. Nguyen alleges they failed to maintain running lights on the barge, did not keep a proper lookout, failed to yield right of way and drove too fast for conditions.

According to the lawsuit, which has been assigned to Judge Donald Floyd of the 172nd District Court, “Plaintiff was in one of the bunks when the collision occurred with such force and violence that Plaintiff was thrown from the bunk, causing Plaintiff serious injuries.”

Nguyen is asking for an award exceeding the Jefferson County jurisdictional minimum and other relief to which he may be entitled.

Source: South East Texas Record