Nashua police searching for teen who may have fallen into flooded storm drain

Nashua police are searching for a 16-year-old boy who may have been swept into a storm drain during heavy rains Friday night.

Jacob Goulet's father reported him missing shortly before 9 a.m., on Saturday, after searching all night for the teen.

Goulet's father had not heard from him since the boy left his friend's house to walk home in the rain storm.

Less than 12 hours before he notified police - around 9:50 p.m., on Friday - Nashua officers had responded to a report of a person falling into a storm drain in the area behind 75 Main St., and the north side of Water St., police said in a press release Saturday night.

In a press conference Sunday morning, police said a body had been spotted in the Merrimack River in Tyngsborough, Mass., but they didn't yet know the identify.

New Hampshire State Police sent deputies to investigate.

Frances Lee Sanders told FOX25 she was the one who called police Friday night about someone falling through the storm drain Friday night.

Sanders said she first saw an umbrella amid the rushing water and when she got closer, she saw the drain cover had come loose. That's when she noticed a hat sitting on it.

"The hat looked like he was trying to hold on...it was right near the drain, like he was trying to hold on," Sanders said.

So she called police, thinking someone may have fallen into the loose drain cover.

Video surveillance shows Goulet had the items in his possession, police said Friday night. The video also shows Goulet was walking in the area of the storm drain.

Goulet's uncle, Darren Blouin, said the items found were the teen's hat and belongings. Blouin and his daughter, Sarah, visited the area Saturday night, hoping Goulet turns up safe somewhere.

"We came down just hoping that he's maybe clinging to something or he's just stuck," Darren Blouin said. "We just don't want to give up trying and looking."

"He's my cousin," Sarah Blouin added. "I've known him since he was little. I care about him a lot, and I just hope he's OK."

Nashua police have set up a command post. They are searching the Nashua River, the Merrimack River, as well as the underground storm drain system north of Water St., and south to Sawmill Drive. The police dive team, Nashua Fire, the fire department dive team, the City of Nashua Waste Water Dept., the Division of Public Works and New Hampshire Fish and Game are assisting police.

Goulet is white, 5'8'' and 200 pounds. He has blue eyes and black hair cut short on the sides and long on the top.

Police urge anyone with information about Goulet's whereabouts to call them at 603-594-3500.

Cox Media Group