Police: 3-year-old swept away in Virgin River found dead

Las Vegas police said the body of a 3-year-old girl was found in the Virgin River near Bunkerville Tuesday afternoon.

The child's identity was not released.

Police spokesman Jose Hernandez said authorities searching for the girl's body located it near the town, about 80 miles northeast of Las Vegas.

Hernandez was not sure what time the girl was reported missing or when she was found.

Bill Cassell, also a Las Vegas police spokesman, said a search and rescue helicopter flew to the scene about 2 p.m.

KLAS-TV, Channel 8 reported that the girl and her family were playing on the side of the river when she was sucked into an irrigation ditch at about 12:40 p.m. on Tuesday. Two other children were endangered, but their grandmother was able to pull them out.

The 3-year-old went into the water near the Riverside Road bridge that connects Mesquite to Bunkerville.

Roughly 50 rescuers searched for hours hoping to save her.

The Associated Press contributed to this report. Contact reporter Antonio Planas at aplanas@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-4638.