Car goes into river; young girl is missing

The search for a 5-year-old girl who was missing after the car she was riding in plunged into the Colorado River near Moab Friday afternoon will resume today.

Officials temporarily ended the search for Danica Maestas, 5, of Mancos, Colo., once daylight was gone Friday.

Evelyn Maestas, 60, and her daughter Tori Maestas, 11, were able to get out of the car and swim safely to shore. But the location of the car, which sank, and Danica, Evelyn Maestas' granddaughter, remained unknown Friday night.

The incident began about 12:30 p.m. when the Maestas was driving with the two girls on state Route 128 about 20 miles north of Moab. The woman looked behind her for a moment, possibly to talk to the children. When she did, her vehicle went off the side of the road down an embankment into the Colorado River, said Utah Highway Patrol trooper Todd Johnson.

The car floated down the river for a short distance, he said. Evelyn and Tori were able to get out. Danica was not seen, however, and the woman lost sight of both her and the vehicle after it became fully submerged. It was not known if Danica was able to get out of the car.

The woman and child who escaped from the car were taken to area hospitals and treated for minor injuries, Johnson said.

A Department of Public Safety dive team with specialized equipment will resume the search early this morning.

— Pat Reavy