Survivor of fatal canoe accident in US arrested for drunk boating

Michael Collins, who survived the canoe accident that killed 20-year-old Dominick Tocci in Connecticut, was arrested on charges of operating a boat under the influence of alcohol. Collins was released on a promise to appear in court.

Scraper SystemJuly 17, 2026, 02:13 PM

Survivor of fatal canoe accident in US arrested for drunk boating

In the US state of Connecticut, the other student who survived a canoe accident that killed a university student has been charged with drunk boating. Michael Collins, 20, turned himself in to police on July 10 and was processed on a charge of 'operating a boat under the influence of alcohol'.

The incident occurred on the night of March 21 on Hayward Lake in the town of East Haddam. Collins, from Mineola, New York, and Dominick Tocci, 20, from Woodstock, Connecticut, went out on the lake in a canoe after drinking alcohol with friends. The canoe capsized after a while, and both young men fell into the water.

After a nearby resident heard cries for help and called authorities, responding teams managed to pull Collins from the water. Tocci, however, disappeared. A large-scale search involving the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) police, state police, dive teams, and local firefighters lasted several days. Tocci's lifeless body was recovered from the lake on March 23.

After months of investigation, the Environmental Police obtained evidence that Collins was intoxicated while operating the canoe and issued an arrest warrant. Collins was released on a promise to appear in court; the hearing date was set for July 23. Officials stated that no other charges have been filed in connection with the incident so far.

Dominick Tocci's death caused deep sorrow in his hometown of Woodstock, where he was remembered as 'a talented athlete who left a mark on everyone with his big personality and energy.' While his stepmother shared her grief on social media, the Woodstock Minor League Baseball, for which Tocci played until 2018, said he was 'a warm spirit with joy, laughter, and kindness.'

Collins' arrest came as DEEP launched 'Operation Dry Water' against drunk boating ahead of the US Independence Day holiday. The agency noted that alcohol remains the leading factor in deaths from recreational boating accidents. DEEP Commissioner Katie Dykes said, 'It is every boater's responsibility to keep Connecticut waters safe.'

Survivor of fatal canoe accident in US arrested for drunk boating