Two drown, three missing in Lake Ray Hubbard
Posted on 09/23/2002 6:03:35 AM PDT by MeekOneGOP
Two drown, three missing in Lake Ray Hubbard
Search continues for boaters
09/23/2002
Two people died and three others were missing after a fishing boat carrying 10 passengers sank early Monday morning on Lake Ray Hubbard.
At daybreak, an intense search continued for a 12-year-old girl and two men who went down when the small boat capsized.
 (DALLAS WEB STAFF) |
It was not immediately clear whether an overnight telephone outage affecting 911 emergency service delayed the initial response to the incident.
The woman who swam ashore told authorities the 8-foot boat struck something in the lake near the Lake Ray Hubbard dam shortly after midnight and it quickly sank.
The woman said three children were among the 10 on the boat. She also said children were wearing the only two life preservers on the boat.
Officials said survivors include 6-year-old and 15-year-old boys, a 20-year-old man and two 18-year-old women.
The two women who died were said to be 18 and 30 years old.
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WFAA-TV reporter Brad Hawkins contributed to this report.
E-mail: kdurnan@dallasnews.com
So unfortunate for those that perished. It doesn't look good for the missing three.
Also, KRLD-1080 AM said there WAS a problem with the 911 telephone system....
Mr. Darwin is always willing to accept applicants who are really persistent.
Mr. Darwin is always willing to accept applicants who are really persistent.
The accident actually happened around 11:30-midnight per KRLD radio this morning. The 911 call was delayed due to 911 system problems at the same time this happened. I doubt they could have saved these folks, but who knows?
Not too smart, all right. Way overloaded and only TWO life preservers.
I'll check the DMN to see if there's an update, FP. But I bet was a very small boat. 
Two drown, three missing in Lake Ray Hubbard
Search continues for boaters
09/23/2002
Two people died and three others were missing after a fishing boat carrying 10 people sank early Monday morning on Lake Ray Hubbard.
At daybreak, four rescue boats and two police helicopters continued an intense search for a woman and two men who went down when the 16-foot boat capsized.
| (DALLAS WEB STAFF) |
Five of the passengers were rescued, including two children. A 22-year-old woman who was aboard the boat was able to swim to shore. All were reported in good condition Monday morning.
Gary Gilliam said he heard some noise outside his home on Scenic Drive in Heath about 3:30 a.m. He grabbed a flashlight to investigate. As he was calling police, Mr. Gilliam found the woman sprawled on the rocks by the shore.
"I can't believe she made it across," Mr. Gilliam said. "It's almost two miles."
Although the woman spoke only Spanish, it quickly became clear that there were others in the lake.
WFAA-TV Rescue boats were helped by the Dallas police helicopter in their search for survivors. |
"It's real sad," he said.
The woman who swam ashore told authorities the boat struck something in the lake near the Lake Ray Hubbard dam shortly after midnight. It started taking on water, but survivors said it did not immediately sink.
The woman said three children were among the 10 on the boat.
Officials said survivors include 6-year-old and 15-year-old boys, a 20-year-old man and two young women.
The boys were found in a cluster surrounding an 18-year-old woman wearing a life jacket.
A 20-year-old man with a life jacket separated from the group and was also rescued.
A game warden found the four survivors and recovered the bodies of a 12-year-old girl and an 18-year-old woman.
All the passengers are believed to be related.
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The boat had not been located.
About a dozen somber relatives of the boaters sat quietly on a sidewalk behind yellow police tape Monday morning, anxiously awaiting words. Many hugged or put arms around one another, and they seemed settled in for a long wait.
"I have no choice. I have to be strong," said Desidro Guzman, the father of two young girls on the boat, as he looked toward the water with tears in his eyes.
Guzman said one of his daughters was the 22-year-old who swam to shore, and that an 18-year-old daughter was among the missing.
He said the daughters, their boyfriends and family members were on a pleasure boating outing.
Motorboats of this size are required by Texas law to carry one life jacket for each passenger under age 13.
Lt. Dickerson said a 911 telephone outage in the region had no impact on response to this incident. The initial call for help went out after 911 service had been restored.
Lake Ray Hubbard reaches into parts of Dallas, Rockwall, Collin and Kaufman counties. The 22,745-acre manmade lake was established in 1968 as a reservoir and is a popular fishing and recreation area.
WFAA-TV reporter Brad Hawkins and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
E-mail: kdurnan@dallasnews.com
Sarah Guzman swam two miles to summon help.
(WFAA-TV)
Woman recounts desperate swim for help
Hope dwindles for more survivors of boating accident
09/23/2002
Two people died and three others were missing after a fishing boat carrying 10 people sank early Monday morning on Lake Ray Hubbard.
Four rescue boats and two police helicopters conducted an intense search for a woman and two men who disappeared when the 16-foot boat capsized, but by Monday afternoon police held out little hope for their safe return.
| (DALLAS WEB STAFF) |
Five of the passengers were rescued, including two children. Sarah Guzman, 22, swam two miles to shore after the boat went under.
"The only thing I could think was, 'I need help,' and I began to swim," Ms. Guzman said through a translator.
"I've always been very afraid of the water," she added, "but at that moment -- I don't know -- I became very courageous."
Gary Gilliam said he heard some noise outside his home on Scenic Drive in Heath about 3:30 a.m. He grabbed a flashlight to investigate. As he was calling police, Mr. Gilliam found the woman sprawled on the rocks by the shore.
"I can't believe she made it across," Mr. Gilliam said.
Although Ms. Guzman spoke only Spanish, it quickly became clear that there were others in the lake.
WFAA-TV Rescue boats were helped by the Dallas police helicopter in their search for survivors. |
"It's real sad," he said.
Ms. Guzman told authorities the boat struck something in the lake near the Lake Ray Hubbard dam shortly after midnight. It started slowly taking on water, but survivors said the boat did not immediately sink.
"The boat turned over and we all went underwater," she said. "Everyone was asking for help and they were desperate."
Ms. Guzman said three children were among the 10 aboard, including her sister.
"What hurts me most is I couldn't help my sister, but at least others were saved," she said.
Officials said survivors include 6-year-old and 15-year-old boys, a 20-year-old man and two young women.
The boys were found in a cluster surrounding an 18-year-old woman wearing a life jacket.
A 20-year-old man with a life jacket separated from the group and was also rescued.
All the known survivors were reported in good condition Monday morning.
A game warden found the four survivors and recovered the bodies of a 12-year-old girl and an 18-year-old woman.
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The boat had not been located in the lake's murky waters.
About a dozen somber relatives of the boaters sat quietly on a sidewalk behind yellow police tape Monday morning, anxiously awaiting words. Many hugged or put arms around one another, and they seemed settled in for a long wait.
Isidro Guzman, the father of two young girls on the boat, looked toward the water with tears in his eyes.
One of his daughters was the 22-year-old who swam to shore, but his 18-year-old daughter was among the dead.
"My daughter was a very intelligent woman," he said. "She graduated from high school with honors. She was expecting to go to college. She was planning on getting married next year."
Mr. Guzman said his daughter who drowned knew how to swim. "Both my daughters were good swimmers; it was just way too far," he said.
The tragedy was overwhelming, Mr. Guzman said. "All the people were my family. Some are not family, but very close friends, so it's all the same."
He said his daughters, their boyfriends and family members had been on a pleasure boating outing.
State law requies a life jacket on board for each person in a boat, Texas Parks and Wildlife Lt. Col. Roy Lawrence said. Children under age 13 must wear a life jacket.
A boat 16 feet or longer must also have a floating device that can be thrown from the craft.
There are no state laws restricting the number of people on a boat, so boaters must use common sense, Lt. Col. Lawrence said.
"Ten people in a 16-foot boat is a large number of people," he said.
Boating at night is also more hazardous than during the day and can affect depth perception, Lt. Col. Lawrence added.
Lt. Dickerson said a 911 telephone outage in the region had no impact on response to this incident. The initial call for help went out after 911 service had been restored.
Lake Ray Hubbard reaches into parts of Dallas, Rockwall, Collin and Kaufman counties. The 22,745-acre manmade lake was established in 1968 as a reservoir and is a popular fishing and recreation area.
WFAA-TV reporters Brad Hawkins and Chris Gailus and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
E-mail: kdurnan@dallasnews.com
Bodies recovered from Lake Ray Hubbard
09/25/2002
Two bodies were recovered from Lake Ray Hubbard on Wednesday and are thought to be those of missing boaters whose boat sank early Monday, officials said.
"We are in the process of getting two bodies out of the water," Lt. Doug Dickerson said. "We will have to wait for positive identification."
Searchers spent Wednesday morning looking for the bodies of a child and two adults who were missing after a 16-foot boat loaded with 10 people struck something in the water and sank.
Josue Castro, 21, Miguel Holguin, 38, and his 12-year-old daughter, Norma Holguin, are the three from the boat who are missing.
Five of the occupants survived, including Sarah Guzman, 22, who swam nearly two miles to shore for help. Searchers recovered the bodies of Elizabeth Guzman, 18, and Mr. Holguin's wife, Rosa Holguin, 38, Monday morning.
The other survivors are the Holguins' daughter, Aracely Holguin, 18, and their 6-year-old son, whose name has not been released. A neighbor said the 6-year-old is named for his father.
Fernando Posada, 15, also was rescued, along with a 20-year-old man who authorities did not name.
There were only two life jackets on board, officials said. State law requires boats to carry a life jacket for each person on board. State law also requires each child under age 13 to wear a life jacket.
When rescuers found the four survivors in the water, Aracely Holguin, the 6-year-old and Fernando Posada were clustered around one of the life jackets. The unnamed man was separated from the group and had the other life jacket, officials said.
Police officials say they are not investigating why the boat was not properly equipped because the boat's operator, Mr. Holguin, is missing and presumed dead.
Survivor: Tragedy happened 'too fast'
Last 3 bodies found from boating accident on Lake Ray Hubbard
09/26/2002
The 10 passengers on a crowded fishing boat on Lake Ray Hubbard had only seconds to react once water started rushing in early Monday, one of the five survivors said Wednesday.
Searchers recovered the last three bodies from the lake Wednesday; two bodies had been pulled from the water Monday.
Moises Rodriguez, 20, said passengers first tried to bail out the 16-foot open-bow boat after water began to swamp it, but the boat sank in less than two minutes. The boat had enough life jackets for the passengers, but most were unable to reach one and secure it in time, he said.
"It was just too fast. Everybody was getting desperate," he said. "I was able to grab one of the life jackets. I'm sorry the others did not have a chance to grab theirs. It was just awful - there are no words to describe it."
Investigators said they have recovered only two life jackets - those worn by the survivors.
Five members of three families died. Relatives are faced with making long-range plans for survivors 6-year-old Miguel Holguin and 18-year-old Aracely Holguin, whose parents and 12-year-old sister died. Funeral arrangements are pending.
"We have somebody to take care of," Mr. Rodriguez said, referring to 6-year-old Miguel. "We want to do our best so he can be as good a man as his dad."
On Wednesday, searchers recovered the bodies of 38-year-old Miguel Holguin Sr., his 12-year-old daughter, Norma Holguin, and Josue Castro, 21. On Monday, the bodies of Mr. Holguin's wife, Rosa Holguin, and 18-year-old Elizabeth Guzman, who was engaged to Mr. Castro, were recovered.
Mr. Rodriguez said the group was on a recreational outing Sunday evening. The boat apparently struck a tree stump but didn't start taking on water until about 45 minutes later, investigators said.
As the boat sank, Sarah Guzman, 22, swam more than a mile to the southeastern shore and called for help. Searchers were able to rescue Aracely Holguin, who was sharing a life jacket with her brother, Miguel Holguin Jr., and family friend Fernando Posada, 15. Rescuers also found Mr. Rodriguez, who had a life jacket and was floating apart from that group.
"We're trying to be strong," Mr. Rodriguez said. "I know God is going to give us the faith that we need."
E-mail rtharp@dallasnews.com
Texas State Law says:
No person may operate or give permission for the operation of a vessel that is
not provided with the required safety equipment.
This family has found out too late these boating laws are there for a reason.
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