Cops: NY river guide was drunk when woman drowned

INDIAN HEAD, N.Y. Police are alleging the guide leading a 53-year-old Ohio woman who drowned in a river in the Adirondack region was drunk at the time of the incident.

State police say Friday that 37-year-old Rory Fay of North Creek was charged with criminally negligent homicide in the death of Tamara Blake of Columbus while rafting Thursday morning on the Indian River in Hamilton County, 80 miles northwest of Albany.

Police say Blake, Fay and 53-year-old Richard Clar of Columbus were ejected when the raft hit some rapids. According to the Post-Star in Glens Falls, N.Y., a passenger - presumably Clar - had to commandeer the raft to shore after Blake was thrown. The two searched the shore but did not find her body. A state police helicopter later found her remains.

Blake's body was found 5 miles downstream in the Hudson River. It is unknown if she was wearing a personal flotation device.

Troopers say Fay is a licensed guide employed by the Hudson River Rafting Co. The owner of the company, Patrick Cunningham, said that Fay had taken about 20 trips to the Post-Star. He called the accident "a tragedy."

Fays being held in the county jail on $50,000 bail. A message left with his lawyer wasn't immediately returned.