Doug Ramsay photo, dougramsayphoto.photoshelter.com

A rescue crew from Snohomish Fire District 4 helps a Snohomish man who was pulled out of the Snohomish River just west of Cady Park Monday, Feb. 6.

Crews rescue 2 from Snohomish River
SNOHOMISH - A teenaged girl and a young man were rescued from the Snohomish River last week, and police now are focusing on why the two were together and how they got in the water.
A 13-year-old girl is in stable condition after authorities say she jumped into the river last week, and a kayaker in the vicinity played a large part in saving the girl.
A 20-year-old Snohomish man who was with the girl and jumped in after her was treated at the scene. The kayaker, Shelly Allan of Snohomish, also is safe.
Police now are trying to find out why the two were together and how the teen got in the water. There is no active criminal investigation at this time, Snohomish Police Chief John Flood said last week.
Police do not know the connection between the 13-year-old and 20-year-old or if any criminal activity happened.
The 13-year-old will be interviewed by a child interview specialist at Dawson Place in Everett this week, Flood said. Dawson Place traditionally works with sexual abuse victims, but that does not mean police believe sexual abuse happened in this case.
Snohomish police want a thorough interview from a children’s expert, Flood said.
“There’s still more investigation to do,” Flood said immediately after the incident.
Police do not know why the teenager jumped in or how far the river carried her. Allan said the two were sitting on the bank of the river when the girl ended up in the water. She was pulled out near the middle of the Riverfront Trail. The girl became trapped in the 5-knot currents.
Firefighters asked Allan to get in her kayak and search the scene while fire crews tried to find the girl and man, Fire District 4 battalion chief Mike Gatterman said last week.
Allan found them and used a riverbank ledge and her knee to hold the girl’s head up above water in the 45-degree temperatures until emergency crews arrived. She was a big girl, Allan said.
The girl was semiconscious when she was pulled out. She was taken to Providence Regional Medical Center in Everett, Gatterman said.
The man was shaking and crying as fire personnel gave him towels. He was treated at the scene and driven home to get warm clothes, Flood said.
The incident started around 3:20 p.m. Monday, Feb. 6.
School gets out at 3:10 p.m., but there was no school that Monday, Snohomish School District spokeswoman Kristin Foley said. Foley did not know if the girl was a Snohomish student, and authorities do not know where she lives.

By MICHAEL WHITNEY
Published Feb. 15, 2012