By Jim Hannah
The Cincinnati Enquirer

DAYTON, Ky. - A group of friends whose small pleasure craft was run over by a speedboat on the Ohio River last year have sued.

Brian Maher, the owner of the pleasure craft, and four of his friends filed a civil lawsuit Friday afternoon in Campbell Circuit Court.

Named as defendants are a Columbus-area car dealer who has been indicted for the wreck, three Kentuckians who were allegedly passengers on his boat, and a riverside restaurant that allegedly served them all alcohol.

The suit asks for unspecified damages.

The car dealer, Glenn Colann, is free on a $20,000 cash bond awaiting trial on four counts of first-degree assault, seven counts of first-degree wanton endangerment and three counts of fourth-degree assault.

Prosecutors say Colann's 40-foot Baja Outlaw speedboat ran over Maher's 20-foot pleasure boat on June 27, 2003, near Daytons and did not stop.

Colann pleaded not guilty. He couldn't be reached Friday evening. Colann's attorney, Jim Morgan of Newport, didn't return messages Friday evening.

Maher's attorney, James R. Poston Jr. of Fort Mitchell, said he filed the suit Friday because the statute of limitations expires Sunday.

Maher said his injuries have required multiple surgeries.

Maher's suit claims Colann was "on a mission to get drunk" and that Colann went up and down the Ohio River at speeds exceeding 80 mph, challenging others to race.

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E-mail jhannah@enquirer.com