SOUTH WILLIAMSPORT, LYCOMING COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — A desperate search was underway on Sunday for a missing girl who was swept away in the Susquehanna River. Crews were on the water all afternoon in the Williamsport area trying to find the 10-year-old.
28/22 News Reporter Avery Nape was on scene during the search.
The 10-year-old girl was in the Susquehanna River late Sunday morning while her mother and another were on the riverbank nearby. That's when their worst fears became reality when the girl disappeared, and the other two tried to save her.
A dozen rescue boats, some coming from as far as Harrisburg, scoured the Susquehanna River Sunday between Williamsport and South Williamsport for a 10-year-old missing girl.
Rescue crews on boats combed the river for hours using sonar and underwater cameras.
"12:00 p.m., we had our first side sonar actually in the water running the side banks and the islands," South Williamsport Fire Department Chief Jeff Trammell explained.
The area where these crews were searching is where the girl disappeared.
It is the foundation of the old Hebden Dam.
A family member 28/22 News spoke with, who did not want to go on camera, says the 10-year-old was playing in the water when she was dragged in.
The others then tried to save her, but were swept away, too.
"Upon arrival, PD, they were able to coach some of them out to swim out on their own, and two individuals went over the dam," Chief Trammell continued.
The missing girl and her mother went over the dam. The mother suffered injuries and was taken to a hospital for treatment.
Family members say physically, she's okay, but emotionally, she's devastated.
West Hazleton woman dead after crash
A man who lives nearby tells me he heard commotion sunday morning, but did not think anything of it until he saw rescue crews across the street.
"I heard people shouting out here and I didn't know where it was coming from, and later on I heard all the sirens from the ambulances and fire vehicles," South Williamsport resident Keith Bloodgood told 28/22 News.
He says it is not uncommon for people to play in this area of the river, but with the dam only a few hundred feet downstream, it can be extremely dangerous.
"The river looks peaceful. It looks like, you know, you can just jump in there and have a good time, but, you know, there's parts of it that are pretty dangerous and the dam is pretty dangerous," Bloodgood added.
While he does not know the victims, he has kids and grandkids of his own, and cannot imagine what the girl's mother must be going through.
"I'm just praying that things come out in the favor of the family, and I just, I feel sad," Bloodgood said.
Crews have wrapped up the search for the night. They did not say if they would resume operations Monday morning.
The South Williamsport School District released the following statement in regards to the incident:
It is with extreme sadness that we share the news that one of our third-grade students has been determined missing since this afternoon. Recognizing that this news will evoke a wide range of emotions from the students’ classmates and even our own faculty, we have been working closely with our community to provide support to our students and staff. 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. Our sincere sympathies and prayers go out to the family and friends of our student and everyone impacted by this event.
South Williamsport Area School District South Williamsport Area School District Doctor Eric Briggs
This is a developing story, and 28/22 News will provide updates as they are made available.
