Department of Energy

State Identifies Men Killed in Groton Boating Accident

The Department of Energy and Environmental Protection on Monday identified the three men involved in a fatal boating accident in Groton over the weekend.

Joseph Formica, 33, of East Haddam and 31-year-old Joseph Grzelak, of Griswold, died after being thrown from their boat when it capsized in Mumford Cove on Saturday.

A third man, 29-year-old Justin Besade, of Uncasville, was treated and released from Lawrence + Memorial Hospital.

DEEP officials said crews responded around 9 a.m. when a resident who lived nearby saw a swamped vessel with no people aboard.

Officials believe the men were duck hunting in Mumford Cove when they went overboard.

One man was found on the shore of Bluff Point and two others were pulled from the water at Mumford Cove.

All three were taken to Lawrence + Memorial Hospital for treatment where two of the men died.

Environmental Conservation Police, the U.S. Coast Guard, Groton Long Point Police, Groton Town Police, and Groton Long Point Fire crews all responded to the scene.

The accident remains under investigation.

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