Michael Collins, 20, of Mineola, New York, was arrested by Connecticut environmental police on July 16, 2026, on a charge of operating a boat under the influence. The charge relates to a fatal canoe incident on Lake Hayward in East Haddam that occurred on the night of March 21, 2026.

Collins was the lone survivor of the trip that ended with the drowning of Dominick Tocci, a 20-year-old from Woodstock, Connecticut. Investigators allege Collins and Tocci had been drinking with friends before they climbed into the canoe. The canoe capsized shortly after they pushed off, sending both men into the water.

Good Samaritans rescued Collins after hearing calls for help, while Tocci's body was recovered from Lake Hayward on March 23 following a multiday search.

Woodstock Little League, where Tocci played before graduating in 2018, remembered him as "a bright and gregarious spirit" who "brought energy, laughter and kindness to everyone he met." Friends and family expressed their heartbreak, with one statement saying, "Dom was a beloved teammate and the type of kid that every coach would want in their dugout." Another added, "Dom's personality, warmth and enthusiasm touched everyone that he knew. Our hearts go out to his mom Lisa, his brother Vincent, his sister Antoinette and the rest of Dom's family. Rest in peace, Dominick. You will be missed, but never forgotten."

This arrest marks a significant development months after the tragic event, as Collins now faces criminal charges connected to the incident.

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