Fatal Collision in Rhode Island Court

Westerly, RI (January 7, 2016) – Cooper W. Bacon, 76, the captain of a 60-foot Princess powerboat that collided with longtime 81-year old fisherman Walter Krupinski’s 23-foot Steiger Craft on Sept. 22, killing him, was arraigned this week at the Rhode Island Traffic Tribunal and charged with three violations of the U.S. Coast Guard Inland Navigation Rules.

Bacon, of Cape May Court House, N.J., is facing charges of improper navigation or failure to have a lookout, failure to take action to avoid a collision, and improper overtaking of another vessel. Each of the violations carries a maximum $100 fine.

Krupinski’s wife, Peggy, said she believes criminal charges should have been filed and plans to file a civil lawsuit against Bacon. In an interview Tuesday, she compared a fatal boating collision to a fatal motor vehicle collision, in which a person at fault might face charges of negligent manslaughter or homicide.

According to Mcilmail, although Rhode Island does not have a negligent manslaughter statute specific to boating, someone involved in a fatal boating accident could be charged with negligent manslaughter, similar to what might happen in a motor vehicle accident.

On Sept. 22, conditions off Watch Hill, RI were choppy with waves 4 to 6 feet in height when the first reports of the collision came in from nearby boaters just after 10 a.m.

Coast Guard Station New London sent out two 45-foot boats that were joined quickly by the Watch Hill Fire Department boat on the water and a Westerly Ambulance Corps crew on land. The Coast Guard crew arrived at 10:46 a.m.

According to the Coast Guard’s initial report, Bacon rammed Krupinski’s boat and caused it to capsize. It was later discovered that Bacon had been hired to take the yacht, owned by Princess Yachts America, from the Newport Boat Show to a boat show in Old Saybrook, Connecticut.

Watch Hill Fire Chief Robert Peacock said Krupinski was in the water when the first responders arrived. His body was recovered and brought to the dock at the Watch Hill Yacht Club before being released to the Office of the State Medical Examiner.

The remnants of Krupinski’s boat were towed to Dodson Boatyard in Stonington. Bacon’s first mate was William L. Noe III, 73, of Woodbine, N.J.

Source: thewesterlysun.com