Friday, November 6, 2009

Smith Island school boat captain arrested for drunken boating


A captain of the Smith Island school boat was charged with operating his boat under the influence of alcohol while he was transporting schoolchildren.

Alan Wade Tyler, 49, was arrested Wednesday after the Coast Guard boarded and then detained his 60-foot boat, the Chelsea Lane Tyler, in Tylerton until Maryland Natural Resources Police arrived.

The five children on board were transported home to Ewell by NRP officers, said Sgt. Art Windemuth, an NRP spokesman.

Tyler was charged with operating a vessel under the influence of alcohol, operating a vessel while impaired by alcohol, operating a vessel while impaired by any drug or combination of drugs and alcohol and negligent operation of a vessel.

The Coast Guard has temporarily suspended his license and will initiate administrative proceedings against him, according to a spokesman for the agency.

Tyler, along with his father, Alan Tyler Sr., share the responsibility of transporting island children to and from Crisfield High School each day.

Alan Tyler Sr. is the owner of the boat and has a contract with the Somerset County Board of Education, similar to contracts the school system has with bus drivers.

Superintendent Karen-Lee Brofee said she did not learn of the incident until about 24 hours later, and still did not know all the details except that the island children did not miss school Thursday.

"There was no break in service," she said. "The children will still get to school safely."

Read More @ DelmarvaNow.com

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