Police think drunken boater ran over friend

By BRIAN WHITE
Published July 29, 2005

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TAMPA - A midnight boat ride Thursday on the Hillsborough River ended with one man severely injured and another arrested for operating the boat while drunk, police said.

Initial police reports said the boat struck an unknown object, knocking Christopher H. Miles and James Dreby Jr. into the water. Miles was caught in the boat's propeller, which sliced into his arm and left side, said Tampa police Sgt. Alan Draffin, who responded to the accident scene.

Police are now skeptical of that account, which Dreby gave to investigators. Draffin said there was no sign that the Yamaha Proline had struck anything. Police think Miles, 31, fell out of the boat and that Dreby ran over him while attempting to retrieve him near the Hillsborough Avenue bridge over the river, Draffin said.

Dreby, 30, then landed the boat and sought help, Draffin said. Dreby failed a sobriety test at the scene and agreed to a breath test, which showed a blood-alcohol level of 0.135, Draffin said. Miles was in critical condition at St. Joseph's Hospital on Thursday evening, hospital spokesman Will Darnall said.

Dreby was arrested on a charge of boating under the influence with serious bodily injury, Draffin said. Jail records show Dreby was freed on $2,000 bail. The two men were "childhood pals," Draffin said.