Jersey Shore yacht captain in fatal boat crash found guilty of 3 violations
![A Princess 60 yacht. [By rdesai from Newport Beach, Ca (Flickr) [CC BY 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons]](https://whyy.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/08p/princess_60_yacht_newport_beach.jpg "princess_60_yacht_newport_beach")
A Princess 60 yacht. [By rdesai from Newport Beach, Ca (Flickr) [CC BY 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons]
The Jersey Shore captain of a 60-foot yacht that was involved in a fatal boat crash off the coast of Rhode Island has been found guilty of violating three Coast Guard navigation rules.
The Westerly Sun reports 76-year-old Cooper Bacon, of Cape May Court House, was found guilty Monday of charges brought against him by the state Department of Environmental Management.
Each violation carries a maximum $100 fine.
The Coast Guard said Bacon’s Princess yacht crashed into a 23-foot Steiger center console boat operated by 81-year-old Walter Krupinski, of Stonington, Connecticut, in 2015.
Krupinski, who died of blunt force injuries sustained in the crash, was heading back to port after fishing. Bacon was traveling from a boat show in Rhode Island to another in Connecticut.
A Coast Guard official testified that Bacon’s yacht was moving at 25 to 31 knots and had auto-navigation engaged just prior to the crash. At trial, a 911 call revealed that Bacon, a licensed captain, expected Krupinski to turn his vessel.
A police officer testified that it was the worse damage he’s ever seen in a boat collision, adding that Bacon’s yacht “essentially rode over” Krupinski’s boat.
An investigation released by the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management in 2016 found that Bacon’s negligence lead to Krupinski’s death. The agency, which also found that weather or visibility were not factors, said that Bacon’s actions were not reckless.
In issuing his decision, the judge found that the testimony presented at the trail “clearly” showed that if had Bacon had a lookout or taken measures to avoid the collision, “[the crash] would have not occurred.”
Krupinski’s widow says she’s pleased with the outcome of the trial.
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The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Krupinski, 81, of Stonington, was pulled from the water following the crash. The cause of his death was determined to be blunt force injuries. The victim’s boat after it was towed to Dodson’s Boatyard in Stonington, Conn. (WPRI/Dave Wiggins) The victim’s boat after it was towed to Dodson’s Boatyard in Stonington, Conn. (WPRI/Dave Wiggins) The yacht’s captain, 76-year-old Cooper Bacon, stated in the 911 call that he saw Krupinski’s boat but failed to slow down or change course in order to avoid the collision, according to the DEM. Investigators said Bacon also did not make an attempt to sound the horn to alert Krupinski of his presence. The DEM said weather and visibility were not factors in the crash. As a result of their investigation, the DEM found Bacon’s operation of his yacht did not rise to the level of reckless, but his negligence resulted in Krupinski’s death. He was charged with various navigation offenses, each of which carries a maximum $100 fine. Top News One injured in multi-vehicle wreck on 146 One person was brought to the hospital with minor injuries. Powered By Share this: EmailPrintTwitterFacebook15GooglePinterestMore Related Posts Westerly teens found safe in New York City ‘A real kick in the rear’: Northeast hit by late-season snow Police: Driver admitted to ‘bar hopping’ prior to fatal crash Warwick man pleads guilty to murder of ‘Captain Freddy’ by Taboola Sponsored Links You May Like Arizona Man Uncovers Historic Fallout Shelter In His Backyard LifeDaily.com That’s How You Find Super Cheap Flights! Save70.com If you own a computer you must play this game! Vikings: Free Online Game Getting a Dog? These Breeds Are the Most Loyal PetBreeds — By Graphiq These Are the Best Colleges in America StartClass — By Graphiq End Your Nightly Snoring Nightmare With This Simple Tip My Snoring Solution Comments are closed. Advertisement Busted in Southern New England Mugshot Gallery: March 2017 March 10, 2017 A collection of mugshots showing suspects recently arrested in Southern New England. Trending Now on WPRI.com Must See Photo Galleries Latest Galleries PHOTOS: Van goes into Providence Restaurant 4 dead in vehicle, knife attack near British Parliament Photos: Rhody Rams in the Big Dance NCAA Tournament: Meet the 2017 Mascots Photos: March 14 snowstorm News Links Advertisement
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