Livingston, La. — A boat explosion during a popular annual event left a man hospitalized with severe burns. Devear “Dee” Tureaud, 53, suffered extensive injuries after the vessel he was working on suddenly erupted in flames at the Tickfaw 200 poker run on May 3.
Tureaud’s injuries are severe, with burns affecting more than 75% of his face and both arms from the elbows down. He was assisting in repairs on a 28-foot boat alongside three other individuals when the accident occurred. Witnesses described a harrowing scene as the vessel, which had recently undergone repairs and installed a new motor, malfunctioned intermittently leading up to the explosion.
Dylan Fabre, one of Tureaud’s colleagues, recounted the moments leading to the blast. “It wasn’t just a normal backfire,” Fabre stated. The group was trying to get the boat running again after it died during their tests. As Tureaud signaled for Fabre to restart the engine, the boat exploded with tremendous force, catching everyone nearby in the blast.
Initially, the fire produced small flames, but it grew rapidly. Fabre, with the help of a friend, managed to untie the boat from the dock and push it away from the shore as the flames intensified. All four men experienced burns, but Tureaud, standing closest to the engine, sustained the most critical injuries.
His fiancée, Eleshia Coats, described the extent of Tureaud’s injuries, stating he has suffered first, second, and third-degree burns. Thankfully, she noted, his shirt prevented more severe injuries to his chest. Since his admission to the New Orleans Burn Center, Tureaud has undergone multiple surgeries and requires weeks of treatment for recovery.
Despite facing an arduous path ahead, Tureaud remains optimistic and thankful that no one else was injured during the incident.
Friends and family have rallied around Tureaud, launching a GoFundMe campaign to help with his mounting medical expenses. The effort has already raised nearly $12,000 of its $20,000 goal as the community offers support for Tureaud and his family during this challenging time.
Authorities are currently investigating the explosion’s cause, but details remain sparse as the investigation progresses. Tureaud, who has long been the primary supporter of his fiancée and two children, faces uncertainty about his ability to work and provide for his family in the coming months.