A Twin Cities boater has pleaded guilty to being drunk when he crashed into the rocks on the St. Croix River, killing a friend aboard and then telling a curious angler that his drinking buddy was asleep and no call to police was needed.
Patrick A. Puhalla, 48, of Bayport, pleaded guilty in Pierce County (Wis.) Circuit Court last week to homicide by intoxicated use of a vehicle, a felony, and causing injury by intoxicated use of a boat, a misdemeanor. Sentencing is scheduled for Aug. 12.
Puhalla's blood alcohol content at the time of the June 5, 2013, crash, north of Kinnickinnic State Park, was 0.114 percent, according to state crime lab results. That's above the legal limit of 0.08.
David J. Riley, 40, of Afton was killed in the crash. Injured along with Puhalla was passenger Daniel M. Schulte, 57, of Hudson, Wis.
One of two people who came up to the damaged boat told sheriff's investigators that Puhalla said "not to call the cops" and assured them that Riley was only sleeping, not mortally injured, according to the criminal complaint.
Schulte told deputies that he and the others were returning shortly before midnight from Boat Drinks Bar in Prescott, Wis., to the Windmill Marina in Afton, where Riley worked as harbor master, the charges continued.
Schulte added that Puhalla was testing new navigation equipment on the boat and traveling between 25 and 30 miles per hour. Schulte said he and Riley were asleep at the time of the crash.
A search of the boat by law enforcement turned up ice and cans of beer near the operator's post. There was also beer in the refrigerator and numerous empty beer cans in the garbage.
