The lone survivor of a March canoe trip drowning on Lake Hayward was arrested July 10 after investigators alleged he had been operating the canoe while impaired. Michael Collins, 20, surrendered to Connecticut’s Environmental Conservation (EnCon) Police and was charged with operating a boat under the influence in connection with the death of 20-year-old Dominick Tocci.
The charge is an allegation from investigators; authorities have not announced other criminal charges in the case. Collins was released on a promise to appear and is scheduled to be arraigned July 23 in connection with the single count of operating a boat under the influence.
Details of the canoe trip drowning
According to investigators and local reporting, Collins and Tocci and others had been drinking before Collins and Tocci pushed off in a canoe on the night of March 21 on Lake Hayward in East Haddam. The canoe capsized soon after leaving shore, and both men entered the water. Good Samaritans and nearby residents responded; bystanders pulled Collins from the lake after hearing calls for help.
Search-and-rescue operations that included Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) Environmental Conservation Police, Connecticut State Police dive teams and local fire and rescue units searched the area for two days. Responders recovered Tocci’s body from Lake Hayward on the afternoon of March 23. Investigators have said the allegation that Collins was operating while impaired is part of an ongoing probe into the fatal incident.
Timeline
March 21 — Collins and Tocci were on Lake Hayward; the canoe capsized that night and Collins was pulled from the water by bystanders. March 22–23 — multiagency search continued; Tocci’s body was recovered on March 23. July 10 — EnCon Police obtained an arrest warrant and Collins turned himself in. July 23 — Collins is scheduled for arraignment on the single charge of operating a boat under the influence.
Arrest and charges filed
EnCon Police sought an arrest warrant months after the March incident, alleging Collins had been operating the canoe while under the influence. Collins surrendered to EnCon officers on July 10 and was arrested on a single count of operating a boat under the influence, a boating-equivalent of driving under the influence (DUI) commonly referred to as BUI.
Officials released him on a promise to appear. His scheduled court date is July 23. Prosecutors have not publicly announced any additional charges tied to Tocci’s death, and investigators have not said in public filings that intoxication was the definitive cause of the drowning.
Legal context and enforcement
The investigation and arrest were handled by DEEP’s Environmental Conservation Police, the division charged with boating safety and conservation law enforcement on Connecticut waters. EnCon has participated in national boating-safety efforts such as Operation Dry Water, which increases patrols and public outreach to deter boating under the influence during high-traffic weekends and holidays.
Connecticut law was updated in late 2025 to create additional consequences for boating under the influence: a conviction for operating a vessel while impaired can, under certain circumstances, lead to the suspension of a driver’s license. The precise application of that provision depends on prosecutorial charging decisions, the details of any conviction, and subsequent administrative actions; defense attorneys frequently note such collateral consequences are determined case-by-case.
DEEP and EnCon officials routinely emphasize basic safety rules: avoid alcohol while operating a boat, wear a life jacket, plan for a sober operator and file a float plan. The agency notes alcohol is a leading known contributor to recreational boating deaths nationwide.
Community response and family statements
News of Tocci’s death devastated his hometown. Friends, coaches and former teammates remembered Dominick Tocci, 20, as a talented athlete with a lively personality who left a strong impression on those who knew him. Woodstock Little League, where Tocci played, described him as “a bright and gregarious spirit” who “brought energy, laughter and kindness to everyone he met.”
A woman identifying herself on social media as Tocci’s stepmother wrote that the family was “so heartbroken” at his loss and asked for prayers. That identification is based on the poster’s own social media profile and has not been independently verified by this outlet.
Memorial donations were directed to youth baseball programs in Woodstock in his honor, according to his obituary. Local tributes stressed the community’s shock and sorrow while officials continued their investigation.
What comes next
Collins’ scheduled court appearance on July 23 will be the next formal step in the case. If prosecutors pursue the single BUI charge to conviction, the conviction could carry penalties under Connecticut boating laws and may trigger the potential driver’s license consequences described above. Sentencing ranges and collateral penalties vary depending on prior offenses and the facts established in court.
Authorities so far have not announced any additional criminal charges related to Tocci’s death. Prosecutors may review investigative findings, forensic results and witness statements as they determine whether to pursue further counts tied to the drowning itself.
Source attribution
Reporting for this article is based on local and national coverage and publicly available agency material. Primary reporting referenced a Fox News account of the arrest and investigation. Additional context on enforcement and Operation Dry Water is drawn from Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) information about boating safety and EnCon Police activities.
Sources: Fox News — College student’s fatal canoe trip takes turn as lone survivor is arrested months later; Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) press resources — portal.ct.gov/DEEP/Press-Room.
