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Two Fairfield Boaters Identified After Fatal Accident On Long Island Sound

FAIRFIELD, Conn. — The two Fairfield men have been identified who died in a boating accident on Long Island Sound as officials released more information on the weekend accident.  

The Coast Guard recovered the body of one of the deceased boaters. The other man was found by Connecticut State Police divers.

The Coast Guard recovered the body of one of the deceased boaters. The other man was found by Connecticut State Police divers.

Photo Credit: Coast Guard

The two men who died were Michael Murphy, 53, of Fairfield, and Scott Trautman, 46, also of Fairfield, according to the Environmental Conservation Police.

The two were aboard Murphy’s 32-foot 2017 Sea Fox power boat heading south in New Haven Harbor on Saturday evening, said Dennis Schain, spokesman for the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection.

At some point, Murphy’s vessel struck the north side of the west breakwall in the harbor area, Schain said. Both Murphy and Trautman were ejected from the vessel and suffered fatal injuries, he said.

Related story: Two Fairfield Boaters Die After Vessel Capsizes In Long Island Sound

A Good Samaritan reported an overturned and damaged vessel at 9:15 a.m. Sunday, the Coast Guard said. 

Trautman's body was recovered Sunday morning by the U.S. Coast Guard New Haven on the breakwall, and he was pronounced dead at the scene, Schain said. 

A search of 61-square nautical miles continued for nearly 10 hours, officials said. 

Murphy’s body was recovered near New Haven at about 8:30 p.m. Sunday by the Connecticut State Police Dive Team, and he was also pronounced dead, he said.

Both Trautman and Murphy were transported to the State Medical Examiner’s office in Farmington for autopsies. 

“Our thoughts and prayers go out to the friends and families of the two men who perished today,” said Capt. Andrew Tucci, commander Coast Guard Sector Long Island Sound. “We are grateful to the emergency responders who assisted in the search efforts.”

The boat, which was overturned and sustained damage to the bow, was recovered from the breakwall, Schain said. 

The EnCon Police are actively investigating the fatal incident.

Other agencies involved in the search were: New Haven Police Department and Fire Department; West Haven Police Department and Fire Department; Milford Police Department and Fire Department; West Haven Harbormaster; and Sea Tow.

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