First Responders Looking For 14-Year-Old Girl In Monongahela River Near West Mifflin

WEST MIFFLIN, Pa. (KDKA) -- A massive rescue operation began Friday after a 14-year-old girl went into the Monongahela River and did not resurface.

Emergency crews were searching in West Mifflin near the intersection of Lebanon School Road and Clairton Dravosburg Road on Friday for about five hours before the search was called off for the night.

The call came in at around 5:53 p.m., and there were more than 20 crews on the scene, including Murrysville Medic One with sonar boats and eight divers. The North Hungtindown swift water team also hit the water, and a state police helicopter was in the air.

In all, about 100 first responders were on the scene.

The West Mifflin Police Department chief said the girl was on the river bank with her family when she fell in. Her stepfather tried to grab her before she fell.

"The relatives were fishing and the girls were just playing near the water and they don't know what happened," said Chief Anthony Topolnak. "The girl, the last time they saw her, she was out too far and started going under the water."

The chief said the family is originally from Nepal but moved to the Baldwin area a few months ago from Texas. He also feels the girl may have been caught in a current.

The Coast Guard will have this section of the river shutdown on Saturday when the search continues for the teen girl.

Stay with KDKA for more on this developing story.