Michael Collins, a 20-year-old college student, has been charged with operating a boat under the influence in connection with a March canoeing incident on Lake Hayward in East Haddam, Connecticut that left his friend and fellow Holy Cross student Dominick Tocci dead.
Background
According to the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection's Environmental Conservation Police, Collins and Tocci were on the lake with a group of friends on March 21 when the canoe they were sharing overturned. Good Samaritans rescued Collins from the water, but Tocci seemingly disappeared beneath the surface. Authorities wrote that he 'went missing in the water.' EnCon Police launched an extensive search operation that lasted two days before divers recovered Tocci's body on the afternoon of March 23.
The Investigation
Authorities allege both men had been drinking before launching the canoe onto Lake Hayward. Based on evidence gathered during the investigation, including witness statements and physical evidence from the scene, EnCon Police secured an arrest warrant for Collins on June 30. Collins subsequently surrendered to officers at Connecticut State Police Troop K, where he was arrested and processed. He was later released on a promise to appear in court.
The Charges
Collins is charged with operating a boat under the influence, a criminal offense in Connecticut that carries significant penalties when serious injury or death results. According to Connecticut law, operators can be charged with this offense when their blood alcohol concentration exceeds legal limits while operating any vessel on state waters. Police have not disclosed whether breath or blood test results factored into the charges.
Key Takeaways
- Both Collins and Tocci were students at the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Massachusetts
- Tocci was a junior majoring in political science expected to graduate in 2027
- The canoe capsized while both men were allegedly intoxicated, according to authorities
- A two-day search operation involving EnCon Police failed to locate Tocci until March 23
- Collins obtained an arrest warrant on June 30 and surrendered shortly thereafter
- He is scheduled to appear in Middletown Superior Court on July 23