Connecticut Man Offered 15-Year Prison Plea Deal in Fatal Drunken Boat Crash Case
A 27-year-old Connecticut man has been presented with a plea agreement that could result in him spending at least fifteen years behind bars, following accusations that he caused a fatal boat crash while intoxicated, resulting in three deaths. Clayton Hackling from Connecticut was offered a thirty-year prison sentence, which would be suspended after he serves fifteen years, followed by five years of probation.
If Hackling accepts this arrangement, he would remain incarcerated for the remainder of his youth, with a potential release date in 2041 when he would be 42 years old. The charges stem from a tragic incident on September 2, 2024, at the mouth of the Connecticut River in Old Saybrook, approximately 35 miles east of New Haven.
Court Proceedings and Judicial Advice
During a recent hearing at New London Superior Court, Judge John Newson addressed Hackling directly, stating, 'Whatever decision you make in the end is yours.' The judge emphasised the importance of thorough consultation with his legal counsel, advising Hackling to 'sit down with your lawyer and have any final discussions about the evidence the state has against you, possible defense you may have, possible exposure if you go to trial and are convicted.'
Hackling is currently free after posting a substantial $350,000 bond, as reported by local media. He faces three counts of second-degree manslaughter with a vessel, with his next court date scheduled for March 23, when he must decide whether to accept the plea deal announced by supervisory assistant state's attorney Stephen Carney or proceed to trial.
Details of the Fatal September Incident
According to investigative documents from the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, the fatal crash occurred around 8:50 PM when the Old Saybrook Police Department received an iPhone crash detection alert from the area of the Connecticut River's mouth and east break wall. Emergency responders discovered six individuals in the water without proper flotation devices, desperately clinging to bean bag chairs and a boat bumper.
The three victims who lost their lives were identified as Christopher Hallahan, 34; Ryan Britagna, 24; and Ian Duchemin, 25. Hallahan was found beneath the submerged vessel and pronounced dead at the scene, with an autopsy confirming drowning as the cause. Duchemin and Britagna were recovered from the river four days later; Duchemin succumbed to blunt force trauma to the head and drowning, while Britagna died from head and neck injuries sustained during collision with the break wall.
Five additional women, aged between 21 and 30, sustained injuries in the accident. Witness accounts indicate that while Britagna had initially been operating the boat, Hackling allegedly took control and accelerated as they approached the river mouth. One passenger expressed concern about the approaching wall, noting that Hackling 'did not travel toward the marked navigation channel' when attempting to enter the river.
Investigation Findings and Alcohol Involvement
Investigators determined that Hackling's blood alcohol concentration measured 0.17 percent at the time of the crash, significantly above the legal limit. The group had been on a day trip to Block Island, Rhode Island, with several members consuming alcohol before whale watching activities. According to victim statements, Hackling had been drinking 'hard seltzer and mixed drinks with vodka' prior to the return journey to Old Saybrook.
A particularly chilling detail emerged when a friend of Ian Duchemin's revealed receiving a Snapchat video from the boat showing water ahead of the vessel, accompanied by a caption reading 'I feel unsafe.' This message was sent shortly before the catastrophic collision.
Hackling himself sustained serious injuries in the crash, including head trauma, pelvis bruising, a collapsed lung, an orbital fracture, and damage to his bladder dome and small intestine. He has requested to view the vessel involved in the incident, which remains in the custody of Connecticut state officials, with arrangements being made for this examination.
The case continues to develop as the March court date approaches, with the plea deal offering a resolution that would see Hackling serve substantial prison time for the alleged offences that claimed three young lives and injured multiple others during what was meant to be a recreational outing on the Connecticut River.
