The lone survivor of a late-night canoe trip that left a 20-year-old college student dead is facing criminal charges after investigators alleged he had been drinking before the outing turned tragic.Connecticut environmental police arrested Michael Collins, 20, of Mineola, New York, on a charge of operating a boat under the influence in connection with the March drowning of Dominick Tocci, a 20-year-old from Woodstock, Connecticut.Investigators say Collins and Tocci had been drinking with a group of friends before the two climbed into a canoe and pushed off onto Lake Hayward in East Haddam on the night of March 21.The trip quickly turned disastrous after the canoe capsized, sending both men into the water.KENTUCKY MAN CHARGED WITH BOATING UNDER THE INFLUENCE AFTER FEMALE PASSENGER, 19, GOES MISSINGMichael Collins, 20, was arrested by Connecticut environmental police on a charge of operating a boat under the influence following a fatal canoe incident on Lake Hayward.(Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection (DEEP))FOX61 previously reported that a nearby resident heard calls for help before good Samaritans rescued Collins from the lake.
Know something we should investigate? [email protected] IG: @fndstephprice X: @StephenyPriceYour tip could lead to our next story.Tocci disappeared beneath the surface, sparking a massive search involving the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection's (DEEP) Environmental Conservation Police, Connecticut State Police drone and dive teams, local fire departments and other emergency responders.After a multiday search, crews recovered Tocci's body from Lake Hayward on the afternoon of March 23.Months later, EnCon Police sought an arrest warrant alleging Collins had been operating the canoe while under the influence.Collins turned himself in to EnCon Police on July 10, where he was arrested and charged with operating a boat under the influence.
He was released on a promise to appear and is ...