A devastating flood swept away a family SUV on Christmas Eve in Sherman, Texas, resulting in tragic consequences.
Will Robinson, a Durant, Oklahoma high school basketball coach, perished while his young daughter went missing after their vehicle became submerged during a severe rainfall, Fox News reported.
Swiftly rising floodwaters overpowered the Robinson family's SUV, trapping all six members when it slid into a drainage ditch. Rescuers saved four of them.
A multi-agency search led by Texas Task Force 2, along with canines and watercraft teams, continues to scour a 15-mile section downstream from the accident site. The effort aims to find Robinson's eight-year-old daughter.
Lt. Samuel Boyle of the Sherman Police Department highlighted the scope of the ongoing search. The search operations were to persist until dusk and resume early the following morning.
Lt. Samuel Boyle expressed the impact of the tragic event and the efforts directed towards the search for the missing child:
We are still unsuccessful in our efforts to locate the 8-year-old girl. We have identified a 15-mile stretch of creek downstream from where the vehicle stopped, and we have targeted that with the multi-jurisdictional task force. We are shifting our focus into the county, targeting some possible locations where we have not looked to as yet. Our search will continue until dark today, then we will resume searching again before daylight.
The flood's onset was rapid, unexpectedly catching the Robinson family off-guard as they drove through Sherman, located about 70 miles north of Dallas. As a result, the heavy rains accumulated quickly, leaving roads submerged and dangerous.
Meanwhile, raised in Durant and known for his dedicated coaching, Will Robinson is mourned deeply by the community. In a heartfelt tribute, a cousin of Robinson took to Facebook, describing the loss as "unbearable," particularly given the timing during the holiday season.
Lt. Samuel Boyle added a caution about the dangers of driving through floodwaters, stressing that it's crucial to find alternative routes and contact local authorities for guidance in such conditions:
My recommendation is don't try and drive through significant standing water. You never know how deep it is, and vehicles are not designed to do that. Once you have lost control of your ability to drive your car, then you are simply at the mercy of the water. And it can be very, very dangerous for occupants of the vehicle. If you cannot continue down the roadway because of the large standing water that is going to cross it… stop and find another way around it. Call local police. Call local emergency services, and ask for recommendations if you aren't familiar with the area.
The community and search teams remain hopeful yet somber as they continue to search for the missing girl, grappling with the sudden loss of a respected coach and community member. Texas Governor Greg Abbott has deployed additional state resources to aid in the ongoing search, reflecting the urgency and gravity of the situation.
