Crews search for teen who tried to swim across St. Croix

Updated: June 19, 2012 - 12:16 AM

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Emergency workers search-ed Monday night for an 18-year-old Lake Elmo man who apparently drowned near Hudson, Wis., while trying to swim across the St. Croix River.

The teen and three or four of his friends were at the Lakefront Park beach in Hudson when they attempted to swim a 200-yard channel from the end of the Hudson dike to the Minnesota side, said Hudson Police Chief Marty Jensen. The teen, who was wearing jeans, was about one third of the way across the river when he began to struggle, Jensen said. The teen tried to return to shore and his friends tried to return to help. They couldn't reach him in time, Jensen said.

About 200 people were on the nearby beach at the time. Jensen said the river's current was strong after the recent rainfall but it wasn't overpowering.

Emergency workers began searching the river shortly before 5 p.m. and continued until past 10 p.m.

MARY LYNN SMITH