Girl Drowns In Cooper River
Camden Courier-Post —
(Another Photo on Page 2)
Donna Binder.
A 15-year-old North Camden girl, on her way to visit her grandmother Monday night, drowned in Cooper River when she and five friends decided to hunt for minnows instead.
The girl, Donna Binder of 1000 Segal st., was to have graduated from Pyne Poynt Junior High School next month.
Police said Donna and a friend, Georgia Hazel, 13, of 522 N. 3rd st., left home about 7 p.m. They intended to visit Donna’s grandmother in Ablett Village.
Instead, they joined Georgia’s brother, James, 14, James Luciano, 9, also of 522 N. 3rd st., William Spavlick, 11, of 616 Linwood st., and Curtis Platts, of 908 Elm st.
According to investigators, the youths headed for the east bank of Cooper River and began looking for minnows about 300 yards south of the State st. bridge.
Steps Into Hole
Donna’s companions said she wandered about 10 feet from shore in shallow water. Suddenly she stepped into a hole and disappeared. She came to the surface, thrashed about and called for help. James Hazel, Luciano and Spavlick tried to reach her as she fought to stay afloat in about 10 feet of water.
Their rescue attempts failed and Donna slipped below the water.
The youths then ran along the river’s edge to the bridge where they told attendant William Caffrey what had happened. Caffrey called police who dispatched Fire Rescue Squad 1, Engine Companies 6 and 11 and several police cars.
Rescuers reached the spot at 8:20 p.m. and, directed by Second District Fire Chief Godfrey Patterson, began dragging operations. Harrison McNair of Rescue Company 1 stripped and dove in a vain attempt to make a quick recovery.
Mother Collapses
Donna’s body was recovered about 9 p.m. by Acting Capt. James Smith. She was pronounced dead on arrival at Cooper Hospital at 9:21. Camden County Coroner Howard Creran said he will perform an autopsy at 1:30 p.m. today.
The girl was identified by her mother, Mary, 38, and stepfather, William Kunitz, at the hospital. Mrs. Kunitz became hysterical after seeing her daughter and collapsed. She was revived, given a sedative and sent home.
Donna is also survived by three sisters, Nancy, 19; Betty, 13; Rita, 10, and a brother, Richard, 17.
—Courier-Post Photos by Bob Bartosz
STRIPPED TO HIS SHORTS, Harrison McNair of Fire Rescue Company 1 helps rescuers in boat look for body of Donna Binder who was drowned in Cooper River Monday night.
Girl, 15, Drowns Trying to Catch Minnows
Philadelphia Daily News —
A group of six young boys and girls went to catch minnows along the Cooper River, 300 yards south of the State St. bridge, in Camden, at 7 last night.
Donna Binder, 15, of 1000 Segal St., Camden, was wading, trying to scoop up a school of minnows when she stepped into a deep hole.
While her friends watched, horrified and helpless, she disappeared. Her friends ran to the bridge-tender’s shack and told attendant William Caffrey what happened. He called police.
AT 9 O’CLOCK, after continuous dragging for almost two hours, firemen brought up the girl’s body. She was taken to Cooper Hospital and was pronounced dead on arrival.
Donna and a friend, Georgia Hazel, 13, of 522 N. 3d St., Camden, had left Donna’s home to visit Donna’s grandmother in Ablett Village, a Camden housing development. But on the way they met four boys.
The boys invited the girls to join them in their “minnow hunt.” So the girls went along.
IN THE GROUP were Georgia’s brother, James, 14; James Luciano, 9, of 522 N. 3d St.; William Stavlick, of 616 Linwood Ave., and Curtis Platt, 10, of 908 Elm St.
The spot where Donna was drowned has been a danger area during hot days. Two weeks ago a boy drowned in almost the exact spot.
And yesterday four boys in a boat got in trouble and were hauled ashore by police.
Donna was identified at the hospital by her mother, Mary, 38, and her stepfather, William Kunitz.