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Emergency crews in Passaic, New Jersey, recovered the body of a 10-year-old girl from the Passaic River on Friday evening, concluding a two-day search that began after the child and two companions fell into the water near a boat launch. The discovery, reported just after 6:30 p.m. near the Market Street Bridge, followed a 911 call that prompted a response from local law enforcement, according to Walter Porto, the city’s Office of Emergency Management (OEM) deputy coordinator.
The tragedy unfolded on Wednesday night at the Dundee Island Park boat launch, where the 10-year-old girl was with two other children: a 10-year-old boy and his 11-year-old sister. While the circumstances surrounding how the children entered the water remain under investigation, authorities confirmed that the group was playing on the boat ramp at the time of the incident.
Search and Recovery Efforts
The search operation, which involved specialized divers and multiple emergency watercraft, transitioned from a rescue mission to a recovery effort as time passed without the girl being located. The boy’s body was recovered hours after the incident on Wednesday, approximately 50 feet from where the group had entered the water. The third child, an 11-year-old girl, survived the event. Passaic Mayor Hector Lora reported that the boy had pushed his sister toward nearby rocks before he went under, allowing her to climb to safety.
Local police confirmed the recovery of the 10-year-old girl on Friday evening after receiving a report of a body in the river. The area near the Market Street Bridge remained a focal point for emergency teams throughout the day as divers conducted their search. The investigation into the specific events that led to the children falling into the river is ongoing, with officials working to determine whether the incident was accidental.
Community Response and Support
In the wake of the tragedy, a makeshift memorial has been established near the Dundee Island Park boat launch. Residents and community members have left tokens of remembrance at the site, which continued to grow throughout Friday. The incident has drawn significant attention to safety concerns along the Passaic River, though authorities have focused their immediate efforts on the recovery and the ongoing investigation.
The investigation remains active, and authorities have indicated that they are continuing to examine the circumstances surrounding the incident at the boat ramp to gain a clearer understanding of the timeline and the factors that led to the trio falling into the river.
Next Steps in the Investigation
The investigation into the deaths of the two children is currently being handled by local authorities, who are expected to provide further updates as the inquiry progresses.
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