ESTACADA, Ore. (AP) — Oregon authorities have suspended the search for a 6-year-old girl who fell into the frigid, fast-moving Clackamas River last weekend. The Clackamas County sheriff’s office said late Tuesday that near-freezing conditions, heavy rain and high river levels put rescuers at risk and reduced divers’ ability to see underwater.
Tuesday’s search yielded three items of little Vinesa Snegur’s (Vin-YES-a Snegger’s) clothing, including a fleece jacket found underwater, zipped up and turned inside out. Sgt. James Rhodes says water rescue experts say the condition of the clothing indicates the child’s body is likely trapped underwater on a snag.
He says search dogs trained to identify human scent combed both banks of the river for miles and found no indication she made it out of the water.
The Portland girl and her parents drove last Sunday to the Mount Hood National Forest to play in the snow. Her father raced along the river after the child fell in but the swift water carried her away.
