October 21, 1998 - After the worst flooding in Central Texas history named "The flood of 98", SMART teamed up with the DPS dive team to search for two missing children in a suburban that was swept off a one lane bridge on CR227 in Caldwell County.  After a four hour boat search, the vehicle was located with the use of a magnetometer. Divers found the vehicle upright in 22 feet of water, 100 yards down stream from the bridge .  SMART Divers penetrated into the vehicle through the back doors and located the body of 11 year old Heather Cottle but did not find 7 year old Devon McCoy.  This was a zero visibility touch contact search and recovery operation.  The vehicle was marked with a buoy and GPS coordinates for later recovery.  A family pet cocker spaniel also died in this tragic incident.  The following day, October 22, the body of Devon McCoy was found floating near the reservoir dam.  See photographs in our Photo Gallery's Recovery Operations section.  98-1021-10.

October 11, 1998 - SMART teamed up with the Texas Speleological Society and performed a gravel excavation at Honey Creek Cave near the Guadalupe River State Park.  After a mile and a half swim from the natural entrance, and while 118 feet underground, the combined team used an air lift to remove gravel and debris that had fallen into the cave from a recently drilled well.  This gravel removal helped restore the natural water flow inside the cave where rocks and debris were piled up four feet high from the drilling.  This operation helped maintain an excellent rapport with the property owner and ensured many more years of spelunking into Texas largest cave.  98-1011-09.

August 17, 1998 - The San Marcos Police Department called SMART to recover the body of a teenage male seen in the Blanco River off River Road in San Marcos.  SMART Divers recovered the body by following SOP and preserved evidence by recording the scene on video, taking measurements, and bagging the hands, feet, and head of the victim.  The deceased was later identified as an 18 year old Gary Job Corps student who was reported missing on Sunday night after he failed to return to the training center from a weekend pass.  After autopsy, San Marcos PD homicide detectives determined the cause of death as accidental drowning.    See photographs in our Photo Gallery's Recovery Operations section.   98-0817-08.

June 15, 1998 - For the second time on this date, SMART is called by the Comal County Sheriff's Department for a recovery. A 13 year old boy is missing after swimming with his family at Comal Park on Canyon Lake. SMART, combined with the CCSO Emergency Services Unit, searched the entire day while outdoor temperatures reached a record 107 degrees. Divers reached a maximum depth of 80 feet with visibility less than 5 feet. A pair of sandals belonging to the victim were located on shore and divers used this location as the last seen point. Despite a well organized search effort, the victim was not located. There were no witnesses and the family did not notice the boy missing for several hours.   On June 20, SMART Divers again searched for the body of 13 year old Johnny Duenez who was reported missing from Comal Park on June 14.   Divers searched the underwater tree line at depths up to 100 feet.  Ten days later on June 25, the boys' body was found floating near the center of the lake by fisherman across from Jacob's Creek Park.  98-0615-07.

June 15, 1998 - SMART is called by the Comal County Sheriff's Department to assist the New Braunfels FD with the recovery of a 30 year old women who drown in the Guadalupe River near Sleepy Hollow Road.  The victim was located and recovered by NBFD. The women had a history of epilepsy and had a seizure prior to walking near the water.  It is believed that a seizure contributed to her drowning.  98-0615-06.

May 23, 1998 - Two five year old boys are found alive and floating in life jackets on Trading House Reservoir east of Waco. When the sun burned boys are questioned by the local game warden who found them, the boys say "We were fishing" and "The boat sank, daddy drown". The father's body was recovered nearly 400 yards away from where the twins were found. SMART was called to recover the sunken boat. After two days of searching with support from local fisherman, the boat is found and lifted by area divers. 98-0523-05.

March 28, 1998 - At the 17th annual Spring - San Marcos River Clean-up called the "Treasure Hunt", organized by San Marcos Parks & Recreation and sponsored by THE DIVE SHOP, SMART received awards for the largest community service group, and for collecting the most bottles (432). 98-0328-04.

March 22, 1998 - SMART cave divers assisted in a joint bio-study of Jacob's Well and Cypress Creek conducted by the US Geological Society, the Texas Natural Resource Commission, and Southwest Texas State University. Divers used the new underwater video camera to record the cave and take close up video of the small marine life. Close up still photographs were also taken of "darters", a small bottom swimming fish. Jacob's Well is located in the hill country of Wimberley, Texas. 98-0322-03.

February 7, 1998 - Two teams of SMART members went back to Honey Creek Cave, Texas largest cave, and made the long underground trek to the upper sump beginning at the man made entrance. SMART has been asked by members of the NSS and TSA to examine this area of the cave and determine if it is possible for cave divers to bring in equipment and explore the underwater cave at the sump. After 8 1/2 hours of steady underground traveling, sometimes crawling on their hands and knees, and other times swimming, the teams emerged exhausted but successful in reaching the sump. A future cave dive is being scheduled.  See photographs in our Photo Gallery's Honey Creek Cave section.  98-0207-02.

February 1, 1998 - A 40 year old male attempts to cross the Blanco River bridge low water crossing on Uhland Road in San Marcos at 3:00AM. His 1997 Ford mustang is swept over the bridge into swallow swift water. The driver is rescued by the San Marcos Fire & Rescue Swift Water Team and SMART is called to recover the vehicle. Using safety ropes and personal floatation devices, divers bring the vehicle to shore with the assistance of a wrecker. See photographs in our Photo Gallery's Recovery Operations section.  98-0201-01.

© 2004 San Marcos Area Recovery Team