A Connecticut man has been arrested on a charge of operating a boat under the influence, months after a late-night canoe trip on Lake Hayward resulted in the drowning death of his 20-year-old friend. Michael Collins, 20, of Mineola, New York, was taken into custody by Connecticut environmental police on July 10.
Investigators allege that Collins and Dominick Tocci, also 20, had been drinking with friends before they launched a canoe onto Lake Hayward in East Haddam on the night of March 21. The canoe capsized, sending both men into the water. Tocci disappeared, and a search was initiated involving multiple state and local agencies, including dive and drone teams.
Tocci's body was recovered from the lake on March 23. Months later, law enforcement sought an arrest warrant for Collins, alleging he was operating the boat while under the influence of alcohol. Collins surrendered to police and was released on a promise to appear in court. His court date is scheduled for July 23.
Authorities have not announced any additional charges in connection with Tocci's death. The incident occurred shortly before the DEEP launched Operation Dry Water, a nationwide campaign aimed at preventing boating under the influence over the July 4th holiday. Alcohol is identified as a leading factor in recreational boating fatalities, and Connecticut law mandates that a boating under the influence conviction can also lead to the suspension of a driver's license.
Tocci, a resident of Woodstock, Connecticut, was remembered by his community as a talented athlete with a vibrant personality. Woodstock Little League, where Tocci played, described him as a "bright and gregarious spirit" who brought "energy, laughter and kindness to everyone he met."