Police: Woman drowns while trying to rescue 2 girls

EVANS, NY -- Authorities in western New York say a woman drowned while trying to rescue two girls from Lake Erie.

The two 11-year-olds were in the water at Wendt Beach in Evans just after 7 p.m. Thursday when they started struggling. That's when a woman went in after them, but she soon went underwater.

Authorities say a police lieutenant and a bystander pulled the girls from the water, but the woman drowned. Both girls were conscious and alert when they were taken to a hospital.

A helicopter was used to find the woman. Police say she's the mother of at least one of the girls.

Authorities didn't immediately identify the victims.

Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz says swimming isn't allowed at the beach.