Woman missing in St. Croix River presumed drowned after search

Last update: July 6, 2008 - 6:44 AM

The search for a woman last seen struggling on the Wisconsin side of the St. Croix River Saturday afternoon turned from a rescue to a recovery mission by evening, authorities said.

The woman was swimming with two girls at Pembles Beach, a township beach about 3 miles south of the Interstate Hwy. 94 bridge at Hudson, Wis. They began to struggle about 100 feet from shore, said Lt. Mike Winberg of the St. Croix County Sheriff's Department.

An onlooker pulled the girls to safety, but the woman disappeared. Authorities haven't identified her.

"We have not seen or heard from her since," said Winberg, . He said the girls were reportedly not injured.

A dive team was sent from Hudson, and St. Croix and Washington County water patrols were assisting, along with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and Hudson emergency medical workers.

STEVE BRANDT