Officials ID Housatonic drowning victim

SHELTON, Conn. (WTNH) -- DEEP has identified a man who died after falling into the Housatonic River over the weekend.

Donald A. Bessette, 55, of 147 Palmer Rd., Chaplin, died on Saturday, December 8th, after falling into the river on Friday.

Just before 7 p.m. Friday, State Environmental Conservation Police responded when a 21' fishing vessel with three men aboard struck a piling in the Housatonic River in Shelton.

One of the three men on the boat fell into the water. The other two boaters called 911 when they were unable to locate the missing man.

The man, later identified as Bessette, was later found unresponsive in the water.

Bessette was taken to Griffin Hospital, and then later transferred to Yale-New Haven Hospital where he died Saturday.

The incident remains under investigation.