DURANT, Okla. (KFOR) — Saturday marks day five of the search for 8-year-old Clara Robinson.
The Sherman Police Department said the Robinson family was involved in a crash in an area near Sherman, Texas on Christmas Eve. They were traveling from Oklahoma to McKinney, Texas for the holiday.
Authorities say their car was swept away by floodwaters. Sherman Fire Rescue and Sherman Police rescued four out of six people in the car.
Crews from Texas have been searching in the water, on the ground and in the air for days. Teams deployed Saturday morning searching large piles of driftwood and eddies.
Jason Jeffcoat, the Sherman Police Chief said Friday, "Rescuers worked quickly to stop the vehicles movement rescuing four of the occupants."
"One of those rescued was a 5-year-old girl that was unresponsive at the time. Sherman fire rescue personnel performed life saving measure on the way to the hospital. Because of their efforts, she survived and is now home with her mother and siblings," said Chief Jeffcoat.
Sherman Fire Rescue officials said Clara's father, Will Robinson, is now deceased.
Bart Bowman with Sherman Fire Rescue said, "The reports that we have is that the father did have the little girl in his arms at one time during the event and later they were seen, they weren't together. So, it looks like he was trying to save her."
Will Robinson was a coach in the Durant Independent School and also a coach with The Owen Foundation, a local non-profit.
They shared photos with News 4 and sent a statement on behalf of the organization.
TOF is a local non-profit that hosts an annual basketball camp for kids with Autism. Coach Rob eagerly served as a liaison and a volunteer for our camps. He was eager to help in any way that he could and volunteered at the camps each year, along with his dad and his daughter Clara (CJ), who is still missing. Everyone who knew Will and Clara loved them. Our hearts are heavy, but our faith is strong. We simply ask that everyone pray for Clara to be found and pray for peace and comfort for the Robinson family and the entire Durant community.
The Owen Foundation
Durant ISD posted a message to Facebook, letting the public know they're doing everything they can to prepare for the start of classes in January to help students and staff cope with grief.
"Thanks to the state and governor Abbott and his office, we have all the assets that we need, we have all the equipment that we need, all the personnel that we need. so the only thing that I can communicate to the public or anybody who's wanting to do more is simply pray for a quick and successful recovery," said Lieutenant Samuel Doyle with the Sherman Police Department.
This is a developing story
