Victim Of Fatal Candlewood Lake Accident Was Beloved Teacher

Wanda Tirado, 38, of Waterbury, was fatally injured when she was swimming near Squantz Cove late Tuesday afternoon.

A teacher at St. Mary"s School in Waterbury, Tirado taught both math and science, school officials said. 

"Everyone who knew Ms. Tirado knows how much she loved her students and knows that she would have done anything for them," said the school officials in a statement. "We ask that you keep her daughters, Amanda and Daniella, in your thoughts and prayers."

Tirado died following the boating accident involving a boat she had been a passenger on, Department of Energy and Environmental Protection officials said. 

 How she was injured wasn’t made clear by officials, who would not say whether she was struck by the boat. But, the boat's operator, Gary Morrone, 65, from Oakville was arrested by EnCon Police for the following violations; Reckless operation of a vessel, failure to help a collision victim, and failure to immediately notify law enforcement of injury.

After being injured, Tirado was rescued from the water by a Good Samaritan vessel and transported to Danbury Hospital, Collibee said. She died on Wednesday.

The accident is currently under investigation by the State EnCon Police’s Boating Accident Investigation Unit (BARU).

Morrone was released on a $10,000 bond with a court date of July 3.

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