BETHLEHEM, PA — A missing autistic juvenile was rescued from the Lehigh River on March 3 after a resident reported hearing cries for help.
Officers with the Bethlehem Police Department responded to a residence at approximately 7:15 p.m. for a report of a missing juvenile female.
The juvenile’s mother reported that her daughter had last been seen at approximately 6:30 p.m. inside the residence before she was discovered missing.
The juvenile was described as autistic and had no prior history of running away.
While officers were gathering information and searching the surrounding area, police received a separate report from a resident on Brighton Street who stated they could hear a female screaming for help in the vicinity of Riverside Drive near the railroad trestle.
Officers responded to the area and began searching along both sides of the Lehigh River, including areas near the Fahy Bridge and Hill-to-Hill Bridge.
Officers were able to hear the calls for help and continued to narrow the location.
An officer ultimately located the juvenile underneath the railroad trestle near the river.
The Bethlehem Fire Department water rescue team responded and successfully rescued the juvenile from the river area.
Bethlehem EMS then transported the juvenile to a local hospital for evaluation.