A high school basketball coach from Durant, Oklahoma, tragically lost his life while attempting to save his daughter during a Christmas Eve flood in Sherman, Texas on December 24, 2024. The child, eight-year-old Clara Robinson, is still missing despite the concerted efforts of multiple search agencies. Coach Will Robinson was highly esteemed in his community.
The fatal incident occurred as the Robinson family was driving to McKinney, Texas for holiday festivities. Their SUV skidded off U.S. Highway 75 due to hydroplaning and plunged into Post Oak Creek around 11:30 a.m. Emergency services arrived swiftly following several 911 distress calls about the submerged vehicle. Robinson was able to shatter the driver’s side window to facilitate his family’s escape but lost contact with Clara in the rushing water.
Four members of the Robinson family were rescued, including a five-year-old girl who was initially unresponsive but subsequently revived at a local hospital. The child needed urgent medical attention before being stabilized. All the rescued family members have been discharged from the hospital.
According to Lieutenant Samuel Boyle of the Sherman Police Department, the incident was caused by “a combination of a heavy downpour and accumulating of groundwater.” He advised, “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.”
Several agencies, including the Grayson County Sheriff’s Office, Texas Department of Public Safety, Denison Dive Team, Texas Parks and Wildlife, Texas Department of Corrections, and Texas Search and Rescue, have joined the search for Clara. They are concentrating on a 10-to-12-mile stretch and targeting large driftwood piles as potential hiding spots.
In the wake of the incident, the Texas Department of Transportation has started the installation of guardrails along the section of U.S. 75 where the crash occurred. This area has witnessed several vehicles veering into the drainage ditch over the years.
“This is just devastating, and happening on Christmas Eve makes it unbearable,” expressed a cousin of Robinson in a Facebook post. “Will was one of the good ones—a devoted husband and father, a beloved basketball coach, and just a great person.”
Since 2021, Robinson had served as a girls’ basketball coach at Durant Independent School District. Apart from his coaching responsibilities, he volunteered at a local non-profit organization that organizes an annual basketball camp for children with autism. His colleagues remember him as a patient, positive, and inspiring mentor who made significant contributions to his students and the community.
The Sherman Police Department is coordinating with Texas Task Force 2 and several local and state agencies in the ongoing search efforts. “In crises like these, we are blessed to serve a community that so badly wants to help in any way they can. We have dozens of first responders involved in this search, many with extensive training in searching in hazardous conditions,” the department shared.
A joint memorial service for Robinson and Clara has been planned for Saturday, January 4, 2024, at 2:00 p.m. in the Durant High School Gymnasium. The high school has postponed its Friday basketball game as a mark of respect for the bereaved family.
Support for the family is pouring in through a GoFundMe campaign that has raised over $25,000 so far. However, local authorities have alerted the public about fake donation accounts and have requested people to respect the family’s privacy during this challenging time.
The Sherman Police Department encourages anyone with relevant information about the case to contact them at their non-emergency number, 903-892-7290. The search for Clara will resume at dawn each day until she is found.