Man who died kayaking in Conn. was from LI

Connecticut officials have identified the man who died while kayaking in the Housatonic River as Kenneth J. Wallace, 54, of Huntington Station.

Wallace's body was found in water at 7:45 p.m. Saturday after the vessel he was on capsized, authorities said.

According to the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection investigation report, Wallace was kayaking with two companions when he rolled over and came out of his kayak shortly after 5 p.m.

Preliminary investigations indicate Wallace's death appears to be an accident, said DEEP spokesman Dennis Schain. He said his department issued a release Friday warning that conditions on the Housatonic River were treacherous because of Tropical Storm Irene.

"The river was raging," said Schain. He said the investigation is continuing.

A man who answered Wallace's home number would not comment on the matter.

Wallace's body was recovered about one mile south of the covered bridge in West Cornwall. His two companions -- a 53-year-old Huntington Station man and a 55-year-old man from Patterson, N.Y., were able to make it safely to shore, according to the report.