By Future Brown / Herald Democrat
Monday morning, search and rescue crews entered into the seventh day of seeking to find 8-year-old Clara Robinson following the tragic wreck that took the life of her father on Christmas Eve.
Local crews have been joined by state crews and volunteers to continue the search that Sherman Chief of Police Jason Jeffcoat says will continue until Clara is found.
“Our search for Clara Robinson reached its seventh day this morning,” a release from the Sherman Police Department said. “Teams deployed early again this morning just before daylight to resume search operations.
“We urge the community to continue praying. Pray for our efforts to find Clara. Pray for continued good weather. Please, most importantly, pray for the Robinson family. This tragedy is unfathomable.”
The community did pray.
Saturday afternoon, locals gathered at the Grayson County Courthouse to pray for the safe return of Clara. Going around the circle, all in attendance had the opportunity to speak before the group. The “Our Father,” or Lord’s Prayer, was said before individuals split into small groups to continue their well wishes while promoting unity.
This search began on Christmas Eve after Sherman emergency services began working the crash scene near US Highway 75 and Houston around 9:30 a.m. The family’s vehicle is believed to have left the roadway near Taylor Street and soon after became trapped in the drainage ditch along US 75.
There were six occupants in the vehicle including a mother, father and four children. The mother and three of the children were safely rescued, but the father and one child were not located near the other family members.
“Reports that we have are that the father did have the little girl in his arms at one time during the event,” Sherman Fire Rescue Deputy of Operations Bart Bowman said during a press conference last week. “Later, they were seen and they weren’t together. So, it did look like he was trying to save her definitely.”
The father, Will Robinson, was found and has been pronounced dead.
Individuals from Sherman Police Department, Sherman Fire Rescue, Grayson County Sheriff’s Office, Texas Department of Public Safety, Texas Parks and Wildlife, Texas Task Force 2, Texas Division of Emergency Management, Grayson County Office of Emergency Management, Texas Public Works, and local rescue diver Brady Baskin have participated in the search that has included Choctaw and
Post Oak creeks.
On the sixth day of the search, The North Texas Division of TEXSAR joined the search.
“They are a non-governmental search and rescue organization who has a 20-year history of emergency service and disaster response,” SPD said. “We are extremely grateful for them reaching out to us and coming alongside our search efforts.”
SPD also reiterated to the community to be cautious against donating to any fundraiser not verified by the family.
“We can only confirm the validity of a bank account with First United Bank that has been created in the Robinson family name,” provided information said.
State Rep Shelley Luther also released an update from the Texas Department of Transportation about efforts to make US 75 safer for drivers.
“Message boards will be installed tonight (Saturday 12/28) urging drivers to slow down,” she said. “Guardrail installation begins Monday and will take 3-4 days.
Roadway reconstruction is set to start in late January.”
