A cabin cruiser hit rocks on the Wisconsin side of the St. Croix River late at night, killing a Twin Cities man and injuring two other men, authorities said Thursday.
The northbound boat crashed about 11:45 p.m. Wednesday into a rock face north of the Kinnickinnic State Park beach, according to the Pierce County Sheriff's Office. As of midafternoon Thursday, the boat had yet to be removed from the river.
Dead at the scene was passenger David J. Riley, 40, of Afton, the Sheriff's Office said.
Injured were the boat's owner and operator, Patrick A. Puhalla, 46, of Bayport, and passenger Daniel M. Schultz, 55, of Hudson, Wis., the Sheriff's Office added.
"Alcohol was present" at the scene, said Sheriff's Chief Deputy Jason Matthys, but investigators were still trying to determine whether drinking contributed to the crash.
Puhalla was taken to Regions Hospital in St. Paul, and was expected to survive, while Schultz was treated for his injuries and did not require hospitalization, said Matthys said.
Authorities have yet to say what led to the boat hitting the rocks.
Paul Walsh • 612-673-4482
