College Canoe Tragedy: Survivor Faces Charges

The tragic events surrounding a late-night canoe trip on March 21 ended with the death of 20-year-old Dominick Tocci, a college student from Woodstock, Connecticut. The sole survivor of this outing, Michael Collins, also 20, is now confronting criminal charges linked to the incident.

Connecticut environmental police apprehended Collins, a resident of Mineola, New York, accusing him of operating a boat under the influence. Investigators disclosed that Collins and Tocci, along with their friends, had consumed alcohol before embarking on a canoe ride on Lake Hayward, located in East Haddam.

The outing took a tragic turn when the canoe overturned, plunging both individuals into the water. Collins was subsequently rescued after nearby residents heard distress calls. Unfortunately, Tocci vanished beneath the surface, igniting a prolonged search by emergency personnel, including drone and dive teams from the Connecticut State Police.

Tocci’s body was discovered on March 23, concluding the search. Months later, EnCon Police sought an arrest warrant for Collins, alleging he operated the canoe under the influence. On July 10, Collins surrendered to authorities, was arrested, and charged with boating under the influence. He was released with a promise to appear in court on July 23. There have been no additional charges related to Tocci’s untimely death.

Tocci’s passing has caused profound sadness in his hometown of Woodstock. Remembered as a gifted athlete with an infectious personality, Tocci left a memorable impact on those who knew him. His stepmother expressed the family’s heartbreak through social media, while the local Woodstock Little League celebrated Tocci’s vibrant spirit, emphasizing his energy, kindness, and warmth.

Memorial donations were directed to youth baseball programs in Woodstock, as per Tocci’s obituary, honoring his passion for the sport.

Coincidentally, Tocci’s death preceded Operation Dry Water, an enforcement campaign targeting boating under the influence, launched by the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP). DEEP emphasized that alcohol is a major factor in recreational boating fatalities. Under the recent Connecticut law enacted in October 2025, a boating under the influence charge also impacts an individual’s driver’s license.

DEEP Commissioner Katie Dykes urged boaters to maintain safety on Connecticut’s waterways, advocating sober boat operation, life jacket usage, and wise decision-making.

Fox News Digital sought further comments from DEEP’s Environmental Conservation Police, but details about Collins’s legal representation remain unclear.