Body of 9-year-old girl who drowned in Kaskaskia River is recovered

The body of a 9-year-old girl who drowned in the Kaskaskia River Saturday afternoon has been recovered, authorities said.

The Fayette County Sheriff’s office received a 911 call to report that the girl had been swept beneath debris near the Wren Bridge area, which is northeast of Vandalia, according to a release from the Fayette County Sheriff’s Department.

Deputies at the scene learned the girl had not been located. Volunteers, law enforcement, first responders and excavating crews worked until 3 a.m. on Sunday in an attempt to find her, the release stated.

She was found at about 11:10 a.m. Sunday, approximately three hours after the search resumed.

Rural Med, Arch Air Medical and Red Cross assisted in the search and recovery.