A high school basketball coach from Durant, Oklahoma, tragically lost his life on the morning of Christmas Eve, December 24, 2024, while trying to save his daughter after their SUV was carried away by floodwaters in Sherman, Texas. The eight-year-old daughter of Coach Will Robinson, Clara, is still missing despite intensive search efforts involving multiple agencies.
Robinson, his wife, and their four children were in route to McKinney, Texas, for holiday festivities when their vehicle spun out of control on U.S. Highway 75 due to hydroplaning and plunged into Post Oak Creek around 11:30 a.m. Emergency services were on the scene within minutes, responding to multiple 911 calls about a vehicle in distress. Robinson managed to break the driver’s side window to aid his family’s escape but was separated from Clara by the forceful current.
Rescue teams were able to save four members of the family, including a five-year-old girl who was initially unresponsive but later revived at a local hospital after receiving swift medical attention. All rescued family members have since been discharged from the hospital.
Lieutenant Samuel Boyle of the Sherman Police Department stated the accident was due to “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, are participating in the search for Clara, utilizing air, ground, and water resources. Their efforts are concentrated on a 10-to-12-mile stretch, with a focus on large piles of driftwood.
In reaction to the incident, the Texas Department of Transportation has started installing guardrails along the section of U.S. 75 where the accident occurred, given the history of vehicles ending up in the drainage ditch in this area.
In a Facebook post, Robinson’s cousin shared, “This is just devastating, and happening on Christmas Eve makes it unbearable. 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. Beyond his coaching responsibilities, he volunteered with a local non-profit organization that runs an annual basketball camp for children with autism. His colleagues remember him as a positive, patient, and inspiring mentor who made a significant impact on his students and the community.
The Sherman Police Department, in collaboration with Texas Task Force 2 and several other local and state agencies, continues the search efforts. The department expressed gratitude for the community’s support, 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 joint memorial service for Robinson and Clara was held on Saturday, January 4, 2024, at 2:00 p.m. in the Durant High School Gymnasium. The high school has called off its basketball game scheduled for Friday in honor of the family.
A GoFundMe campaign has been established to assist the family during this challenging time. The campaign has managed to raise over $35,000 so far. Local authorities have issued a warning about fake donation accounts and have requested the public to respect the family’s privacy during this difficult period.
The Sherman Police Department encourages anyone with relevant information about the case to reach out to them at their non-emergency number, 903-892-7290. Search operations will resume each morning at dawn until Clara is located.
