Bethlehem police and firefighters rescue missing girl near Lehigh River

Authorities searched both riverbanks before locating the autistic girl and bringing her to safety

Published on Mar. 6, 2026

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Bethlehem police and firefighters rescued a missing autistic girl Tuesday night after she became stranded under a railroad trestle near the Lehigh River by Brighton Street. Responders searched both riverbanks near the Fahy and Hill-to-Hill bridges before locating her and using the fire department's water rescue team to bring her to safety. She was taken to a nearby hospital for evaluation.

Why it matters

This incident highlights the importance of effective emergency response and coordination between police and fire departments in locating and safely retrieving vulnerable missing persons, especially those with special needs, in challenging outdoor environments.

The details

According to authorities, the 45-year-old autistic girl became stranded under a railroad trestle near the Lehigh River in Bethlehem's SoMa neighborhood. Police and firefighters searched both riverbanks near the Fahy and Hill-to-Hill bridges before spotting the girl and using the fire department's water rescue team to bring her to safety. She was then transported to a nearby hospital for medical evaluation.

  • The incident occurred on Tuesday night.

The players

Bethlehem Police Department

The local law enforcement agency that responded to the missing person report and coordinated the search and rescue effort.

Bethlehem Fire Department

The local fire department that provided water rescue support to locate and retrieve the missing girl from the Lehigh River area.

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The takeaway

This incident underscores the vital role that first responders play in protecting vulnerable members of the community and the importance of effective emergency response protocols, especially in high-risk outdoor environments.