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A news release from DEP spokesman Dennis Schain stated that the cabin cruiser motorboat, which was owned and operated by Thomas Asheton, 35, of Ridgedale Drive in Bethel, was traveling southbound on the lake and struck the rocky shoreline of Vaughn's Neck Sunday at 3 a.m.
The other occupants were Kevin Foster, 35, of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., and Ronald Lorenzoni, 42, of Beechwood Circle in Brookfield.
All three men reportedly suffered "serious injuries."
It stated that the New Milford Fire Dept. and emergency medical services assisted in extricating one of the occupants.
Mr. Asheton and Mr. Foster reportedly were taken to Danbury Hospital for treatment, and Mr. Lorenzoni was transported to St. Mary's Hospital in Waterbury by Lifestar helicopter.
Mr. Gardner said that DEP investigators would try to determine whether "speeding was involved and will determine if there was alcohol involved, whether the board was operated safely and the person operating it had taken all of the appropriate boating safety courses."
Ambulances from New Milford and Sherman and two Lifestar helicopters responded to the accident.
The marine rescue boat from the Candlewood Co. Fire Department in Brookfield was at the scene, as well as members of the Water Witch Hose Co. 2 in New Milford and paramedics from New Milford and Danbury.
Mr. Gardner said that the accident came one year to the day of a two-boat fatal crash that occurred farther south on Candlewood Lake, the largest lake in Connecticut.
That crash killed Theodore Layton, 35, of New Milford and Jason Wanat of West Redding and injured three other people.
