Wilton kayaking accident victims identified

Wilton, Conn. (WTNH) - A Wilton woman has died following a kayaking accident Friday in the Norwalk River.

The body 50-year-old Dorren Wallace was recovered from the water . But the search continues for James Lind, also of Wilton, the man Wallace was kayaking with.

Wallace was unconscious when she was pulled her from the raging river Friday evening by a person from the nearby Schoolhouse at Cannondale restaurant. EMS performed CPR in the ambulance and transported her to Norwalk Hospital. Wallace was pronounced dead a few hours later.

“Shortly after 6 p.m., a kayak and a woman who passed away were seen in the river,” explained Police Chief Michael Lombardo, Wilton PD. “A worker did go into the water and remove her."

News 8's Crystal Haynes asked: “What kind of condition would you estimate the waters being at the time where these folks were spotted kayaking on 5:15 on friday evening?"

“I can tell you the river was very high at that time, six o'clock last night, and it was running very rapidly," said Fire Chief Paul Milositz, Wilton FD. "The Norwalk River is a narrow course river that means the river fills up and a sit fills up it moves more rapidly to get to the same volume of water through a small opening."

The search for 46-year-old James Lind, also of Wilton, resumed Saturday.

Wilton Emergency Dispatch receive a call just after 6 p.m. from bystanders who reported a person floating in the river in the vicinity of Cannon Road. Observers in the area told police that two people where seen in a kayak on the river around 5:15 p.m.

Wilton and Norwalk emergency and dive crews conducted an extensive search Friday night until the fast moving water and darkness forced them to call off the search. A helicopter from the Stratford Police Department provided the needed lighting to aid in the search.

An empty two-person kayak was recovered Friday evening.

Police in Wilton are warning people to stay away from rivers in the area until waters recedes following this week's storm.

Anyone with information concerning the whereabouts of James Lind is asked to contact the Wilton Police Department at 203-834-6260.