Girl Dead, Brother Missing After Getting Trapped By Kankakee River Dam

CHICAGO (CBS) -- Crews have resumed their search for a 12-year-old boy believed to have drowned in the Kankakee River on Monday, a day after his 13-year-old sister died trying to save him from the strong current near the Wilmington Dam.

Wilmington Police Chief Phillip Arnold said, around 6 p.m. Monday, 13-year-old Abiyail Arroyo and her brother were at a family cookout in South Island Park near the dam, when her brother waded into the river, and said he wanted to "touch the wall of water, which is the dam."

"He was told by one of the witnesses not to do that, but he got a little too close. He couldn't get back out again. At that point, his sister went in to try and help him," Arnold said.

When both children began struggling in the strong current, two brothers who saw them in trouble tried to save them.

"Our two good Samaritans that tried to help jumped in the water; one first. When he was in distress, his brother jumped in to help him. That's when the officers arrived, and we were able to pull one brother out. The other brother was ejected to the shore, and he was able to get out," Arnold said.

Relatives of the good Samaritans said the first brother, Ramon Ibarra, managed to reach the two children, but was unable to get them to safety before needing to be rescued himself.

"He stepped on a rock, and that's when he saw the little boy, and he grabbed his arm, but then the little boy went around and grabbed his neck," said his nephew, Bryan Ibarra. "He was trying to kick him off, and grab his hand to pull him on the bank, and then out of nowhere, the other girl got on him, and that's when he started going underwater."

Ramon's brother, Alvaro, went into the river to help his brother, and was able to get out when emergency crews showed up and threw him a rope. Ramon washed ashore, and was taken to the hospital.

Others along the river pulled Abiyail to shore, but she was pronounced dead at Presence Saint Joseph Medical Center in Joliet. Crews searched for her brother for several hours Monday before calling off the search due to darkness. The search resumed Tuesday morning.

The children's father was overcome with grief, and said he's still processing what happened.

Wilmington Fire Protection District Deputy Chief Todd Friddle said about 40 firefighters were taking part in the search, both on foot and on boats. A canine team and an Illinois Department of Natural Resources airboat also were assisting in the search, and an Illinois State Police helicopter was being brought in to do a flyover.

Officials said the current is very strong at the dam, and apparently pulled the brother and sister underwater. Signs along the river tell visitors not to swim, fish, or launch boats near the dam.

"The dam produces that turbulent effect. That's why we have the signs and everything posted down there, because it's hard to get out of once you get into it," Friddle said.

Friddle confirmed several drownings have happened in the same area of the river, so unfortunately search crews are familiar with recovery missions. He said it could take days to find the boy's body.

Search team will work in shifts, and plan to be out all day Tuesday and Wednesday if needed.

Ramon Ibarra was hospitalized in critical condition Monday evening, but was in good condition Tuesday morning, according to his brother.