KANSAS CITY, Mo. — An 11-year-old girl drowned Saturday at the Kansas River.
Kansas City, Kansas, police and fire crews responded at 3:33 p.m. to the area of Interstate 435 and Woodend Avenue on a rescue/drowning call.
Police were told that an 11-year-old female, who had been playing near a sand bar with her family, stepped into the river to retrieve a beach ball that was stuck.
When she entered the water, she was "sucked under" the surface, according to a news release.
One adult and two juveniles attempted to rescue the 11-year-old, but also needed to be rescued, the release stated.
The rescue effort is now a recovery effort.
KCK fire told 41 Action News during a recovery mission on Sunday that they had three boats in the river from Kaw Point to I-435 and used sonar technology to search for the girl and came up empty.
Recovery crews are deciding whether or not to resume the search on Monday, as her body might have floated downstream.
Family and friends gathered by the riverfront on Sunday by the area where she was last seen.
The incident is under investigation, and anyone with information is asked to call the TIPS Hotline at 816-474-TIPS.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
