Press Releases
01/22/2018
DEEP Releases Names of those Involved in Weekend Boating Accident in Groton
The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) today released the names of victims involved in the boating accident in Groton on Saturday morning. Joseph Formica, 33, of East Haddam and Joseph Grzelak, 31, of Griswold died as a result of injuries sustained in the accident. Justin Besade, 29, of Uncasville was treated and released from the hospital on Saturday afternoon.
Background on the accident
At a little after 9 am Saturday morning, emergency crews responded to the area of Mumford Cove in Groton after a resident that lives nearby reported seeing a vessel swamped with no occupants visible. DEEP’s Environmental Conservation Police, U.S. Coast Guard, and units from the Groton Long Point Police Department, Groton Town Police, and Groton Long Point Fire Department responded to the area.
Three men, who had been waterfowl hunting, are believed to have been involved in a capsizing. Two of the men were recovered from the water by Groton Long Point Fire Department and one man was found on the shore of Bluff Point State Park by the U.S. Coast Guard. A 16’ open motorboat with outboard engine was recovered.
Three men, who had been waterfowl hunting, are believed to have been involved in a capsizing. Two of the men were recovered from the water by Groton Long Point Fire Department and one man was found on the shore of Bluff Point State Park by the U.S. Coast Guard. A 16’ open motorboat with outboard engine was recovered.
The incident remains under investigation by DEEP’s Environmental Conservation Police.
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