Police officer also taken to hospital for evaluation, officials say
LYNDHURST -- Township police on Saturday pulled a 56-year-old woman from the Passaic River after she apparently tried to take her own life, authorities said.
A motorist on Route 21 called police around 10:30 a.m. to report she spotted the woman standing waist deep in the river, according to department spokesman Capt. John Valente. Police found the woman floating on her back when they arrived.
After she did not respond to commands to come to shore, Lt. Michael Carrino put on a life vest and managed to reach the woman, Valente said in a statement. Officers Paul Haggerty, Phil Reina, Nick Abruscato and Steve Batista helped bring Carrino and the woman to land.
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"Making the rescue more difficult was the fact that the river was at low tide, forcing the officers to traverse the muddy shore line to the water's edge," the captain added.
Police said the woman, a Newark resident, was conscious during the rescue and taken to Hackensack University Medical Center. Carrino also went to the hospital to be evaluated for exposure to the river water. Fire crews decontaminated all the officers.
Noah Cohen may be reached at ncohen@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @noahyc. Find NJ.com on Facebook.