By AP/KWMU
St. Louis, MO – Authorities say four of the five young people who drowned in a river near St. Louis last night were siblings.
The five drowned in the Meramec River Sunday while on an outing with the St. Louis Dream Center, an interdenominational church founded by the Joyce Meyer Ministries.
Witnesses said the children, ages 10 to 17, were swept away after they went into the river to rescue a sixth child, who survived.
The victims were identified as Ryan Mason, 14; Damon Johnson, 17: Bryant Barnes, 10; Deandra Sherman, 16; and the only female, Dana Johnson, 13.
All the children except Deandra had the same mother, Edris Mason, and all are from St. Louis.
The identity of the surviving child was not released.