September 11, 1996- For the first time SMART cave divers entered into Jacob's Well in Wimberley to map out the cave and take water samples for bacteria analysis at Southwest Texas State University. Divers have continued with regular operations into the cave system to remove debris, monitor water flow, and collect water samples for analysis.  See photographs in our Photo Gallery's Recovery Operations section.   96-0911-08

August 6, 1996- A Crime Stoppers tip to the San Marcos Police Department indicates that a missing vehicle is in the San Marcos River near CR-266. Divers located the submerged Monte Carlo and discover the vehicle is registered to man found deceased in the water down stream nearly 14 months earlier under suspicious circumstances. Autopsy showed the victim died by drowning. Divers investigate the vehicle as a crime scene and by recording vehicle positioning and mechanical operations, determine that the drowning was accidental when the victim attempted to forge the San Marcos River 300 yards upstream from where the vehicle was found.  See photographs in our Photo Gallery's Recovery Operations section.  96-0806-07

July 7, 1996- A 40 year old man jumps from a moving boat and attempts a swim to shore near Sorrel Creek, Canyon Lake. Divers are called by the Comal County Sheriff's Department to search for the missing boater after recreational divers in the area attempted to locate the victim the night before. After interviewing witnesses, divers used a shore line sweep pattern and recovered the victim in 11 feet of water in a record bottom time of 1 minute and 58 seconds. 96-0707-06

April 11, 1996- A Vehicle plunges off of Stage Coach Road into the Blanco River in Hays County. SMART is called by Texas Department of Public Safety Troopers to investigate. Divers discover the body of the 24 year old driver pinned between the roof and back seat of his Ford Bronco. The vehicle was discovered upside down in 12 feet of water. An autopsy indicated the victim was not intoxicated and death was due to drowning. 96-0411-05

March 23, 1996- Five children were playing in a boat on a large stock tank in the Green Pastures sub-division, Hays County, when the boat is capsized. Two boys ages 5 and 13 are missing while the remaining children made it to shore. SMART is called by the Hays County Sheriff's Department to search for the missing boys. The contaminated water in the tank had dead animals floating on the surface. It took divers three hours to locate and recover the two victims in 12 feet of water. 96-0323-04

February 17, 1996- SMART Divers spent 3 days looking for the body of a missing boater who fell off the back of his boat on Valentines Day near Red Cove Marina. Divers assisted the Medina FD and Texas Game Wardens while braving 48 degree water at a depth of 94 feet. The victim was not located until 118 days later when the 44 year old male victim floated to the surface and was recovered.  96-0217-01 (-02,-03)

© 2004 San Marcos Area Recovery Team