Toddler drowns in Willamette, girl hospitalized

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Searchers remained on the Willamette River after they found the body of a 4-year-old boy and rescued a 7-year-old girl from the water near one of the oldest bridges in the city.

Neither child was identified and there was no information available on the girl's condition.

Police say officers were called to the Sellwood Bridge area around 1:20 a.m. Saturday after screams were reported.

Upon arrival, officers tried to find the source of the screams but could not locate it because of the early morning darkness, said Officer Greg Pashley, Portland Police Bureau.

Portland Fire Bureau and Multnomah County River Patrol boats also responded to the scene with suburban Milwaukie police. The U.S. Coast Guard sent a helicopter to assist in the search.

"As you look down into the darkness it's hard to see anything," Pashley said. "I can't imagine what it must be like to be a child in this cold river."

A local resident who was searching with his boat found the children downstream of the bridge. At about 2:10 a.m., they were both taken to authorities gathered near the Oregon Yacht Club on the river's east shore, Pashley said.

Police continued to search both sides of the river. They also searched and blocked access to a dock on the west side of the river by midmorning Saturday.

An autopsy for the boy was pending.

Anyone with information was asked to call Portland police.

Copyright 2009 The Associated Press.