Police Officers Saves Girl From Drowning In River

A 13-year-old girl was saved from drowning when a Wenatchee police officer pulled her from the chilly Columbia River.

Rosa Garcia fell off a personal watercraft into the 45-degree water around 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, police said.

Officer John Kruse was called to the area after Garcia and jet ski driver Bernardo Macias, 22, fell off the vehicle. They were wearing life jackets but did not have wet suits on, police said.

Macias was able to reach the shore with the help of a passerby.

Garcia, who was apparently disoriented because of the cold, was trying to remove her life vest, police said. Kruse removed his gun belt, shirt and bulletproof vest and swam out to save her.

Macias and Garcia were taken to Central Washington Hospital, where they were treated for hypothermia and released.

Kruse, 32, was not treated and completed his night shift.