The driver and one passenger managed to escape, one person remains missing and is the focus of the search.   She is Susan Smith, 59, of Mills County.  Texas Dept. of Parks and Wildlife Game Wardens continue daily checks of the area to monitor water levels and check surrounding land areas.

“Lake Brownwood reports water level approximately 1.1 inches above the spillway and resultant river levels, plus the amount of brush, limbs and other hazardous debris in the river, have resulted in our decision to suspend the waterborne search efforts,” reported Chief David Creed, Brown County Emergency Management. We continue visual land searches. The high water level, the fast moving current and the amount of debris in the river makes it just too dangerous to put boats in the water at this time.”

According to Creed, Texas Department of Parks and Wildlife teams previously used boats equipped with side-scanning sonar as well as airborne drones and a helicopter for visual surveillance. “The water levels appear to be dropping. Once water conditions allow us to do so safely, we will resume the search with boats,” Creed added.