On December 24, 2024, a high school basketball coach from Durant, Oklahoma lost his life while trying to save his daughter, following their SUV being swept away by floodwaters in Sherman, Texas. The eight-year-old daughter of Coach Will Robinson, Clara, is still unaccounted for despite ongoing extensive search operations involving multiple agencies.
The Robinson family encountered the tragic accident while on a journey to McKinney, Texas for Christmas festivities. Their vehicle skidded off U.S. Highway 75 due to hydroplaning, subsequently plunging into Post Oak Creek around 11:30 a.m. Emergency services arrived promptly after receiving several distress calls about the vehicle. Before being separated from Clara by the strong current, Robinson managed to break the driver’s side window and assist his family in escaping.
Four of the family members, including a five-year-old girl who initially was unresponsive, were rescued. The girl required immediate medical intervention and was later stabilized at a local hospital. All retrieved family members have been discharged from the hospital since their rescue.
According to Lieutenant Samuel Boyle of the Sherman Police Department, the accident resulted from “a combination of a heavy downpour and accumulating of groundwater.” He cautioned, “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.”
The search operation for Clara involves 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. The teams are intensifying their efforts in a 10-to-12-mile stretch, focusing particularly on large driftwood piles.
In light of the incident, the Texas Department of Transportation is installing safety measures along the stretch of U.S. 75 where the accident happened, as numerous vehicles have plunged into the drainage ditch in this area over the years.
The news of Robinson’s death has deeply affected his community. A cousin of his noted on Facebook that “Will was one of the good ones—a devoted husband and father, a beloved basketball coach, and just a great person.”
Robinson had been coaching girls’ basketball at the Durant Independent School District since 2021. Beyond his coaching role, he was a volunteer at a local nonprofit organization that organizes an annual basketball camp for children with autism. His colleagues remember him as a positive, patient, and inspiring mentor who profoundly influenced his students and the community.
The Sherman Police Department is spearheading the search efforts in collaboration with Texas Task Force 2 and various local and state agencies. The department acknowledged the community’s willingness to help, stating, “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.”
A shared memorial service for Robinson and Clara is planned for Saturday, January 4, 2024, at 2:00 p.m. in the Durant High School Gymnasium. The high school has called off its Friday basketball game out of respect for the family.
A GoFundMe campaign started to assist the family during this challenging period has already raised more than $25,000. However, local authorities have warned the public about fraudulent donation accounts and requested the community respect the family’s privacy during this time.
The Sherman Police Department is urging anyone with significant information about the case to call their non-emergency number at 903-892-7290. The search operations will resume each day at first light until Clara is found.
