An flipped kayak in the Housatonic River close to the Commodore Hull Bridge was reported to Shelton 911 on January 5. Following notification, the Derby Fire Department joined the Shelton Fire Department in their response. Derby personnel detected the ship and decided a thorough search was required based on objects discovered in the vicinity. Drone operators from the Stratford EMS and Fire Department, the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, the Shelton and Derby fire departments, RASAR and remote coordination with the U.S. Coast Guard formed a single command post at O'Sullivan Recreation Park. For about three hours, a small section of the river was searched.

Operations were halted as daylight faded, with preparations to start up again the next morning. The kayak operator was found safely at home shortly after, and it was determined that he had swum to shore and fled the area.