Search Continues For Girl, 10, Missing In Passaic River

PASSAIC COUNTY, NJ — The search continued Friday for a 10-year-old girl believed to have drowned in the Passaic River on Wednesday night.

Officials said that three children — an 11-year-old girl, her 10-year-old brother, and their 10-year-old friend were on a boat dock in the Passaic River on Wednesday night when they were swept in. The river had swelled from storms the past two days.

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The 11-year-old girl was able to get out of the river, telling rescuers that her brother had pushed her closer to the shore. The boy was found dead.

First responders have been searching the river for the other girl since Wednesday night.

On Friday, rescue groups said they were relieving other responders who had worked for hours.

Bergen County's Countywide Emergency Response Team posted on social media that they were helping responders near the Wallington Boat Ramp.

Reports said a memorial has grown on the Passaic Street Bridge for the 10-year-old boy. The boy's sister told officials that he had pushed her toward the shore as he sank.

Passaic Mayor Hector Lora said Thursday, "I ask that you continue to pray for the families and to hold them up in your thoughts because they are in need of your support."

Officials said police were called to the river around 6:20 p.m. on Wednesday. The mayor said that the children did not go into the river intentionally and were not there to swim.

Everett Garnto, the mayor of nearby Garfield, posted on social media Thursday, "I ask everyone to please keep the families from our school district in your thoughts and prayers as they cope with the horrific tragedy that occurred yesterday evening in Passaic."

Lora told the media, "The families are extremely distraught...but we are holding out hope."

Floodwaters raged around Passaic County this week after heavy storms dumped five inches of rain on the area from Monday through Tuesday. Seventy-five people were rescued in just one Passaic County town.

Patch will update this breaking story as more information becomes available.