College student's fatal canoe trip takes turn as lone survivor is arrested months later
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 MISSINGFOX61 previously reported that a nearby resident heard calls for help before good Samaritans rescued Collins from the lake.🚨 Know something we should investigate?📩 stepheny.price@fox.com📸 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.
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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 MISSINGFOX61 previously reported that a nearby resident heard calls for help before good Samaritans rescued Collins from the lake.🚨 Know something we should investigate?📩 stepheny.price@fox.com📸 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 scheduled to appear in court on July 23.Authorities have not announced any additional criminal charges in connection with Tocci's death.INFLUENCER CONNOR MURPHY'S RENTAL DISCOVERED IN SHOCKING CONDITION AFTER HIS SUDDEN DROWNINGNews of Tocci's death devastated his hometown of Woodstock, where friends, coaches and former teammates remembered the 20-year-old as a talented athlete whose larger-than-life personality left a lasting impression on everyone he met.A woman identifying herself on social media as Tocci's stepmother wrote that the family was "so heartbroken" by the loss."We are so heartbroken at the loss of my stepson, Dominick, please keep us in your prayers," she wrote at the time of his death. "Such an amazing kid and will be missed forever."BODYCAM SHOWS NANTUCKET OFFICIAL SLURRING, SWAYING DURING DUI STOP AFTER CRASHING INTO SIGN: POLICEWoodstock Little League, where Tocci played before graduating from the program in 2018, remembered him as "a bright and gregarious spirit" who "brought energy, laughter and kindness to everyone he met.""Dom was a beloved teammate and the type of kid that every coach would want in their dugout," the league wrote.
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- 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 MISSINGFOX61 previously reported that a nearby resident heard calls for help before good Samaritans rescued Collins from the lake.🚨 Know something we should investigate?📩 stepheny.price@fox.com📸 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.
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College student's fatal canoe trip takes turn as lone survivor is arrested months later
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