Man killed in boat accident on Lake Sam Rayburn identified
Updated: Jul 13, 2016 3:54 PM EST
By Elizabeth Jimenez, Producer
UPDATE 11:40 AM: Game Warden Justin Eddins tells 12News that this is the third boating accident this year on this small island and that it is the worst boating accident he has seen in his 15 year career.
Investigators are not sure how fast the boat was going but say the boat did have lights on last night according to Eddins.
The unconscious adults and the two girls, who called 911 to report the accident, were found aboard the boat floating near the island he said
A state boat crash investigation team is on its way to the lake he said.
It is currently unknown if alcohol played a factor in the accident and there is no curfew on the lake according to Eddins.
12News was told earlier by the sheriff's office that Cross and Thibodeaux were dating , however, game wardens are now saying that the pair were friends.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
UPDATE 11:40 AM: Todd Cross, 39, of Orangefield, has been confirmed as the man who died in a boat accident late Tuesday night on Lake Sam Rayburn according to Jasper County Deputies.
Casey Thibodeaux, 34, of Orangefield was critically injured in the accident according to deputies.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
UPDATE 10:40 AM: At about 10:30 p.m. Tuesday night a single boat carrying a man, woman, and two juvenile girls, all from Orangefield, hit a fixed island just of of Rattle Snake Island according to Game Warden Justin Eddins.
The man, who owned the boat, was killed in the accident which did not involve any other boats according to Eddins.
Jasper County Sheriff Mitchell Newman tells us that one girl was his daughter and one was hers.
The woman is in critical condition and the girls will be ok according to Newman.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
From Previous reports...
The Jasper County Sheriff's Office has confirmed to 12News that one person is dead after a boat accident late Tuesday night.
According to a deputy with the Jasper County Sheriff's Office, the accident happened on Lake Sam Rayburn around 10:45 p.m.. Four people were on the boat at the time of the accident. One person is listed in critical condition, and two others are in serious condition.
12News spoke with Jasper County Sheriff Mitchel Newman. He said Two kids are at the hospital in Jasper. One adult was taken by medical helicopter to CHRISTUS Southeast Texas St. Elizabeth in Beaumont. Sheriff Newman said it appears as if the boat ran into an island trying to cross the lake.
The names of the individuals involved has not been released. An official said it is believed they are all from Orange County.
The investigation is being conducted by Texas Parks and Wildlife.