A canoe capsized on Lake Hayward near East Haddam, tossing two 20-year-old men into the water. The incident set off a multi-agency search that’s stretched into several days.
One man was pulled from the water by a Good Samaritan and taken to the hospital. The other, though, is still missing as authorities use drones, dive teams, and fire departments to try to find him and offer his family some answers.
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Overview of the Lake Hayward incident and response
On the night of Saturday, March 21, two 20-year-old men were out on a canoe on Lake Hayward in the Moodus area near East Haddam. Their canoe flipped over.
A nearby resident heard them calling for help. Someone nearby, in a paddle boat, managed to pull one man out of the water.
The rescued man went to a local hospital and was later released. The second man, Dominick Joseph Tocci, age 20, was last seen in the water at about 9:50 p.m. on March 21.
Authorities searched for him that night but couldn’t find him. They paused the search early Sunday morning, then started up again at 9 a.m. and kept going into the evening, stopping and resuming as needed, and picked up again on Monday.
Who is searching and what methods are being used
DEEP EnCon Police are leading the search, with help from the Connecticut State Police drone and dive teams, CSP Troop D, and the East Haddam and Middletown South fire departments.
Crews are searching the water and shoreline, using drones for aerial sweeps, and sending in divers. A DEEP spokesman said they’re using every resource they have to find Tocci and support his family.
Timeline of the search and ongoing efforts
- March 21, 9:50 p.m.: Tocci last seen in the water. A Good Samaritan in a paddle boat brings one man to shore.
- Night of March 21–22: Search teams look for Tocci but suspend their efforts in the early morning hours.
- March 22, 9 a.m.: Search resumes with DEEP EnCon Police, CSP drone and dive teams, and local firefighters combing the lake and shoreline.
- March 22–23: Teams keep up with aerial scans and diving, pausing and restarting as they check safety and conditions.
- March 24 and beyond: The coordinated search continues. DEEP asks anyone with information to reach out.
What the community should know and how to help
People across Connecticut are following the search as updates ripple through towns near the lake and farther out. This whole ordeal is a stark reminder of the risks of open-water activities and why life jackets and basic safety steps matter so much.
Officials say they’re committed to this search. If you saw anything or know something, they really want you to call DEEP Dispatch at 860-424-3333.
Connecticut towns and cities affected by and surrounding the search
Right now, Lake Hayward is at the center of attention. Still, the response actually stretches across a big chunk of Connecticut.
Besides East Haddam and Middletown, authorities have reached out to folks in several other towns. Communities all over the state are paying attention, and some are pretty worried, honestly.
If you’re following the story, here’s a quick list of Connecticut towns and cities connected to this situation or just close enough that people are talking:
Importantly, investigators say they’re still working on the case. Public tips could make a real difference.
If you know anything about Dominick Tocci’s disappearance or the capsizing, please call DEEP Dispatch at 860-424-3333.
Here is the source article for this story: Authorities search CT lake for boater missing after canoe capsizes; identify him as 20-year-old
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