1 Police Officer Dead, 1 Missing

Authorities searched a river Monday for a missing police officer after two officers in an emergency truck plunged more than 40 feet off an open drawbridge in thick fog late Sunday. At least one of the officers was killed; the missing man was feared dead.

The vehicle fell into the Hackensack River after the officers crossed the Lincoln Highway Bridge -- also known as Hackensack River Bridge -- and placed flares to warn motorists that the bridge’s safety warning system was not operating, said Jersey City Police Chief Robert Troy.

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

“They dropped off the cones and the flares, wished everyone a Merry Christmas and were joking around. From what I’ve heard, they were all in good spirits,” Jersey City Mayor Jerramiah Healy said.

“The horrible irony is they were responding to the very situation that caused their demise. The bridge operator wanted cones and flares, and our police department was the first to respond.”

The safety bar and bell used to warn motorists when the bridge is open had not been working for two days because a vehicle had crashed into them, officials said.

The body of Officer Shawn Carson, 40, was found Sunday night. Carson was a 16-year veteran of the force.

Divers searched the 40-degree water Monday for Officer Robert Nguyen, 30, who has been with the department for six years.

The bridge, which links Jersey City and Kearny, is operated by the state Department of Transportation.

Department spokeswoman Erin Phalon said investigators were trying to determine whether the bridge operator was required to contact the officers before they crossed back into Jersey City, or whether the officers should have notified the operator.

“Everything in the universe that could have gone wrong, did go wrong,” said police Lt. Tom Comey.