David J. Riley, 40, of Afton, was killed, and Patrick A. Puhalla, 46, of Bayport, and passenger Daniel M. Schultz, 55, of Hudson, Wis. were injured when Puhalla’s boat crashed at 11:45 Wednesday night.
The boat hit rocks on the Wisconsin side of the river near the Kinnickinnic River. According to the Pioneer Press:
The boat’s owner, Patrick A. Puhalla, 46, of Bayport, and passenger Daniel M. Schultz, 55, of Hudson, were taken to Regions Hospital in St. Paul with injuries. Puhalla, who was believed to be operating the boat, was in good condition at about 1 p.m., a hospital spokeswoman said, and Schultz had been treated and released.
Their injuries occurred inside the boat; none of the three were ejected during the crash, said Tom Gunderson, an investigator with the Pierce County sheriff’s office.
The boat was a 40-foot Formula 400 Super Sport. Riley was the yard foreman for Windmill Marina in Afton. The boaters were reportedly traveling from Prescott to Afton when the crash occurred.
Investigators are still working to determine the cause of the crash. According to the Star Tribune, “alcohol was present” but it is not known if it was a factor.
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