Basketball Coach's 8-Year-Old Daughter Missing In Flood

01/05/2025 04:44 PM

A beloved girls basketball coach's daughter is officially missing after getting swept away in a flood on Christmas Eve.

Will Robinson, a girls basketball coach in Oklahoma, died in a car accident with his family on Christmas Eve. He was reportedly traveling in a car carrying six people when the vehicle hydroplaned and plunged into a flood ditch. Robinson was reportedly killed in the accident, while four members of his family were rescued by authorities. Tragically, his 8-year-old daughter has been declared missing.

The 8-year-old daughter was reportedly swept away in the flood. After a week of searching, a memorial service has been declared.

Durant Public Schools announced the joint memorial service for Will Robinson and his daughter.

"A joint memorial service will be held for Will and his daughter Clara will be held on Saturday, January 4, 2025, at 2:00PM at the Durant High School Gymnasium," the school district announced.

"Family hour will be held on Friday, January 3, 2025, from 6:00-8:00PM at Fusion Bible in Durant, Oklahoma.

"Please continue to keep the family in your prayers."

CBS News had more on the tragedy:

Will Robinson fought to hold on to his daughter as long as he could before rising floodwaters overwhelmed him, authorities said. He did not survive. Four other family members, including a 5-year-old child, were rescued and have recently been released from area hospitals, Sherman police said Friday.

"Reports that we have are 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 looked like he was trying to save her, definitely," said Bart Bowman, deputy chief of operations with Sherman Fire-Rescue, during a joint press conference Friday with other local and state law enforcement agencies. 

Our thoughts continue to be with the friends and family members of the Robinsons during this difficult time.