Authorities have arrested a U.S. Coast Guardsman on a felony charge of boating under the influence and a charge of reckless operation of a vessel two months after he was involved in a boating accident that severely injured another Coast Guard member.
The Monroe County State Attorneys Office and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission arrested Petty Officer 2nd Class Reed J. Roher on Monday, July 8, on a charge of boating under the influence causing serious bodily injury and reckless operation of a vessel stemming from a May 22 accident near Big Pine Key Key. Roher reportedly ran over the victim, Petty Officer 2nd Class Chase Hrynyshyn, and Hrynyshyn “was pulled from the water unconscious/unresponsive and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) was immediately performed,” FWC Lt. Josh Peters wrote in the arrest report.
Roher was reportedly driving a 16-foot Carolina Skiff and following a 17-foot Mako in which Hrynyshyn was a passenger, according to the arrest affidavit.
“The injured occupant, in a highly intoxicated state, voluntarily jumped out of the leading vessel,” the report stated. “V1 (vessel one) operated by Mr. Roher was following too close to V2 (vessel two), approximately 20-30 feet. He was unable to take effective action to avoid hitting the injured occupant. The injured occupant was struck by V1 (vessel one) and was found unconscious, face down in the water, and bleeding profusely from a head injury. The injured occupant was pulled from the water unconscious/unresponsive and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) was immediately performed.”
Medical records indicated that Hrynyshyn was admitted into Jackson South Medical Center in “critical condition with acute respiratory failure, laceration to his scalp and lower leg,” the arrest report stated.
Roher’s blood-alcohol level was 0.122, which is above the legal limit of 0.08, according to the arrest report. Lt. Peters noted that the accident occurred at about 2:30 p.m., and the blood draw did not occur until about 5:30 p.m., nearly three hours after the crash. Roher also admitted to drinking from six to eight High Noon vodka seltzer drinks, the arrest report stated.
“Mr. Roher, as the captain, was responsible for his own actions,” Lt. Peters wrote. “It was up to him to follow the navigational rules, keep his vessel and occupants safe, and do everything necessary to avoid collision. However, Mr. Roher was operating his vessel too close to a vessel in front of him to allow himself enough time to react to unforeseen circumstances. He failed to maintain: a proper look out, safe speed, and take effective action to avoid collision. Mr. Roher operated his vessel under the influence of alcohol in which his normal faculties were impaired.”
In the past week, seven people were injured and one person died in two separate boating accidents in Keys waters.
On July 8, seven people were taken to the hospital with serious injuries after the boat they were riding in struck the South Pine Channel Bridge at a high rate of speed shortly before 2 a.m.
On July 5, a Hialeah man was struck and killed by a boat while spearfishing off of the Marathon. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is investigating both accidents, and no charges have been filed as of Wednesday.
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