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Authorities searched a frigid river Monday for a police officer missing since an emergency squad truck plunged more than 40 feet off an open drawbridge whose safety warning system was not operating. The body of a second officer was recovered.

The officers on Sunday night had crossed the Lincoln Highway Bridge over the Hackensack River, which links Jersey City and Newark, and had placed flares to warn motorists of the problems with the span, police Chief Robert Troy said at a news conference Monday.

The safety bar and bell used to warn motorists when the bridge is open had not been working for two days, Troy said.

Before the officers turned around and drove back across the river, the bridge's middle span was raised to allow a tug boat to go under.

"As dark as it was, as foggy as it was, as rainy as it was, they had no idea," Troy said.

The body of Officer Shawn Carson, 40, was found Sunday night. He was pronounced dead at University Hospital in Newark. Troy said he believed the impact of the truck hitting the water killed the 16-year veteran of the force.

Divers and other rescue and recovery teams continued searching the 40-degree water on Monday in an effort to recover Officer Robert Nguygen, 30, who had been with the police department for six years.

"We won't stop until we do," Troy said.

The bridge is known by several names, including the Hackensack River Bridge. AP Link

"The safety bar and bell used to warn motorists when the bridge is open had not been working for two days, Troy said.
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Sheesh! So whoever's in charge of this thing just let it go unrepaired and didn't come up with an alternative warning system, like, say, a cop there to warn people?

There's a railroad crossing a few blocks from me, with safety bars, bells, and lights. It fails once in a while. When it does, there's a railroad guy there 24 hours a day, to warn drivers until it is repaired.

This sucks!