Lawsuit filed against suspect in fatal Old Saybrook boat crash claims wrongful death, recklessness

The video above aired in January 2026. OLD SAYBROOK, Conn. (WTNH) — A lawsuit has been filed against the Lyme man accused of crashing a boat in Old Saybrook on Labor Day in 2024 and killing three people. The crash happened just before 9 p.m. on Sept. 2, 2024. Clayton Hackling, 26, was allegedly driving a 31-foot boat with nine people on board when he crashed into a break wall at the mouth of the Connecticut River. First responders rescued six people from the water, who police said suffered serious injuries. A subsequent search over the following days resulted in the recovery of three dead passengers — 24-year-old Ryan Britagna, of Waterford, 25-year-old Ian Duchemin, of Oakdale, and 34-year-old Christopher Hallahan, of Westbrook. The lawsuit claims the wrongful death of and recklessness against Duchemin and Britagna. It goes on to say that Hackling willingly and consciously chose to drive the boat under the influence of liquor and drugs, drove it in a reckless manner, chose to not operate it at a safe speed and more. Hackling was charged with three counts of second-degree manslaughter with a vessel, three counts of first-degree reckless operation of a vessel while under the influence of intoxicating liquor or drugs, three counts of second-degree reckless operation of a vessel, operation of a vessel while under the influence of liquor or drugs, required and authorized lights, and rules for preventing collisions. In January, he was offered a plea deal. The lawsuit is demanding $15,000 to the estates of Britagna and Duchemin. Read the full lawsuit below.