Yacht captain found guilty in fatal boat crash

By: The Associated Press

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CRANSTON, R.I. -The New Jersey captain of a 60-foot yacht that was involved in a fatal boat crash off the coast of Rhode Island has been found guilty of violating three Coast Guard navigation rules.              

The Westerly Sun reports 76-year-old Cooper Bacon, of Cape May Court House, was found guilty Monday of charges brought against him by the state Department of Environmental Management.

Each violation carries a maximum $100 fine.              

The Coast Guard said Bacon’s yacht crashed into a 23-foot boat operated by 81-year-old Walter Krupinski, of Stonington, Connecticut, in 2015. Krupinski was killed.             

A Coast Guard official testified that Bacon’s yacht was moving at 25 to 31 knots and had auto-navigation engaged just prior to the crash.             

Krupinski’s widow says she’s pleased with the outcome of the trial.

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