10-Year-Old Missing After Being Swept Away While Playing in River, Officials Fear She May Have Gone Over Dam
The other two other children were able to emerge from the water, said the South Williamsport Fire Department
A South Williamsport school official confirmed that the missing girl is a third-grade student
Pennsylvania authorities are searching for a missing 10-year-old girl who was last seen playing in the Susquehanna River over the weekend.
In a Facebook post shared on Sunday, May 4, the South Williamsport Fire Department said they responded to a water rescue that morning after a passerby noticed children playing in the river and felt it was unsafe.
'2 children were able to be coached out of the water, 1 adult went over the dam and was rescued by shore personnel (SWPD), and 1 child was unaccounted for,' the fire department wrote.
Related: Missing Woman Drowned in River After Leaving Home with Drawers and Cabinets Open
The fire department added that the search, which also involved resources from other counties, continued until dark.
'Please keep the family in your thoughts and prayers as well as the responders,' the statement concluded.
PEOPLE contacted the South Williamsport Fire Department and the South Williamsport Police Department for additional information.
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Officials believe the girl may have gone over Hepburn Street Dam after being swept away, the Williamsport Sun-Gazette and ABC affiliate WNEP reported.
Based on the information available, Fire Chief Jeff Trammell told the Williamsport Sun-Gazette.girl was with two other children, 10 and 13, when a current pulled the girl away as she was floating.
"They went over the dam, and the adult that was not in the water tried to make a rescue, and she went over the dam as well,' added Trammel, WNEP reported.
The outlet reported that officials say the woman was able to get back to shore safely.
Related: Father Drowns While Saving His 3 Kids from New Jersey River, Police Say
Water rescue units spent over six hours Sunday searching the Susquehanna along the borough side, with authorities employing sonar, underwater cameras and drones, reported Penn Live.
The search for the victim was expected to continue on Monday with the arrival of a state police marine unit, the outlet added.
In a Facebook post shared on Sunday, Dr. Eric Briggs, superintendent of schools for the South Williamsport Area School District, confirmed with 'extreme sadness' that the missing girl is a third-grade student,
'Recognizing that this news will evoke a wide range of emotions from the student's classmates and even our own faculty, we have been working closely with our community to provide support to our students and staff,' Briggs wrote.
Related: Father and Son Fishermen Rescue N.Y.C. Man Who Spent Night Treading Water Off N.J. Coastline
'The district will have school counselors, counseling staff from community agencies, and county officials to provide emotional support services as needed throughout the day tomorrow and in the upcoming weeks for our students and staff,' his statement continued.
'Our sincere sympathies and prayers go out to the family and friends of our student and everyone impacted by this event,' Briggs concluded.
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