East Haddam, CT – The body of Dominick Joseph Tocci, a 20-year-old college student, was recovered after a canoeing accident in Lake Hayward, East Haddam, Connecticut. The incident occurred on March 23, 2024, following a multiday search by authorities.
The Canoeing Accident
Dominick Tocci, from Woodstock, Connecticut, was part of a canoeing trip when the canoe he was in capsized late on Saturday night, around 9:50 p.m. The other individual in the canoe was rescued, but Tocci did not resurface. The search for Tocci began that night and continued for several days.
Lake Hayward, a 170-acre freshwater lake, is a popular recreational area in New England, often used for boating and other water activities.
Search and Recovery Efforts
Authorities launched a search operation involving several teams, including DEEP Environmental Conservation (EnCon) Police, Connecticut State Police, and other local agencies. These teams used drones, dive teams, and water-based searches to locate Tocci’s body.
Tocci’s body was eventually found on March 23, 2024, at around 3 p.m. The search efforts were carried out over the course of multiple days, with support from aerial surveillance and dive operations.
Tocci’s Connection to College of the Holy Cross
Tocci was a junior political science major at the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Massachusetts. The college confirmed the tragic news and expressed deep sorrow over the incident.
“The College was devastated to learn this afternoon that the search team found the body of Dominick Tocci ‘27,” the school said in a statement. “The prayers of the entire Holy Cross community are with Dominick’s family, friends, classmates, professors, and all who knew him.”
The college also offered counseling support to students, faculty, and staff affected by the tragedy. They requested that the privacy of the Tocci family be respected during this difficult time.
Investigation and Next Steps
The incident is still under investigation by DEEP Environmental Conservation Police. The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner will determine the cause and manner of death.
In the meantime, DEEP officials have extended their condolences to Tocci’s family and expressed gratitude for the efforts of the emergency personnel involved in the search and recovery operation.
