Medical Examiner Releases Ruling in Death of Keith Morris

Stamford Patch- There was little information available from the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Connecticut relating to the death of Keith Morris, the New Rochelle firefighter who died in a boating crash Sunday night as he drove four others home from a restaurant.




"We only give out two pieces of information to the public," said a representative at the office. "Ruling and cause."



What little was available only gave a glimpse into the night tragedy struck:



•Morris death was ruled accidental.

•Cause of death was drowning.

No toxicology reports or descriptions of physical injuries he may have suffered as a result of the crash that might have impeded his ability to swim following the flip were available.



Morris, 30, was driving four friends home to New Rochelle from the Crab Shell waterfront restaurant & bar on his boat at approximately 10:30 p.m. when he struck a breakwall and flipped the vessel in Long Island Sound, near the Stamford Lighthouse.



Two of the passengers were clinging to the boat, waiting for help to arrive while two of the passengers were inside the cabin when the boat flipped. They were trapped until rescue divers arrived, and eventually freed.



Divers searched for Morris throughout the evening, to no avail. His body would be recovered close to the scene of the crash the following afternoon in roughly 16 feet of water at low tide. He would've been covered by 24 feet of water and debris during high tide at the time of the crash.



New Rochelle firefighters are still struggling to cope with the loss. DiMeglio also said the firefighters in Morris' company has been dealing with things, a majority of the time, in their own way.



"We told them that we have resources available if they need them," DiMeglio said. "But, as of now, those resources aren't being utilized."



Funeral arrangements have been made with viewing hours for friends and family Thursday and Friday with a mass and interment on Saturday. Chief Louis DiMeglio said he would do everything in his power to help Morris' family.



"We just told the family that we'll do our best to comply with whatever their wishes are," said DiMeglio, who knew Morris well and worked with him closely.



The family has asked that, in lieu of flowers, donations be made to “Butterflies from Jodie," the Jodie Torigian Charitable Fund, 31 President Street, New Rochelle, NY 10801.