Michael A. Simmons, 18, 3-30-09 Lake Lavon, TX [FOUND DECEASED]

[annalyzer]

Search for missing person continues

Date: Tuesday, March 31, 2009
news@farmersvilletimes.com

At approximately 10:40 p.m., March 30 the Collin County Sheriff's Office received a call of two missing persons. Kimberly Clayton, a white female who is under the age of 17, and her friend Michael A. Simmons, a white male, 18, had gone for a ride on Lake Lavon in the Clayton family's paddle boat and had not returned.

Deputies responded to County Road 1053. Shortly after arriving at the location, Ms. Clayton was found near County Road 490 on the west side of Lake Lavon. Ms. Clayton advised that the paddle boat had capsized in Lake Lavon due to high winds and waves. Ms. Clayton was able to hold onto the boat, but was unable to determine what happened to Mr. Simmons.

At the time of the accident, the wind speed was approximately 18 mph. with 28 mph. gusts and the water temperature was between 59 and 64 F. A search was begun with assistance from Wylie Fire Department and Branch Fire Department. The search was suspended at approximately 4 a.m.

The search for Mr. Simmons was resumed at approximately 7 a.m., March 31, 2009. The Collin County Sheriff's Office was assisted by boats from the Corps. Of Engineers, Texas Parks and Wildlife, Branch Fire Department, Princeton Fire Department and Wylie Fire Department.

The Department of Public Safety helicopter also provided assistance from the air. A Collin County Sheriff's Office Command Post was established at Elm Creek Park to coordinate the search.

The paddle boat has been recovered, as well as shoes believed to belong to Mr. Simmons. Today's search will be suspended at dark, but will resume at approximately 7:30 a.m. tomorrow.

More information regarding this story will be released as it becomes available.

http://www.farmersvilletimes.com/articles/templates/news.asp?articleid=559&zoneid=5

[sarahhod]

Teen from Lake Lavon accident still missing

(Created: Wednesday, April 1, 2009 10:03 PM CDT)


Local and state rescue officials are still trying to find the body of a New York male who went missing following a paddleboat accident.

By Danny Gallagher, McKinney Courier-Gazette

Local law enforcement and state rescue officials have been unable to locate the body of a teenage male who went missing when his friend’s paddleboat overturned in the cold waters of Lake Lavon.

Rescue crews have been searching for Michael Simmons, 18, of Freeville, N.Y. in Lake Lavon since Monday after the paddleboat he was riding in overturned due to high winds and high waves, according to statements released by the Collin County Sheriff’s Office.

The accident occurred at approximately 10:40 p.m. Monday on the lake. Simmons and his friend, 17-year-old Kimberly Clayton, were riding in Clayton’s family’s paddleboat when it overturned and the two were separated by the high waves on the lake, according to released statements.

Deputies responded to a missing persons call regarding Clayton and Simmons at the lake, and found Clayton alive and well on County Road 1053 on the west side of the lake.

Clayton told deputies that a combination of heavy winds and high waves capsized the paddleboat and sent both of them diving into the cold water. Clayton was able to hang on to the boat and pull herself back aboard, but Simmons could not be located, according to released statements.

Lt. John Norton of the Collin County Sheriff’s Office estimated that winds at the lake reached speeds of 18 mph with wind gusts up to 28 mph. The combination of strong winds and low temperatures dropped the temperature of the water to around 59 and 64 degree Fahrenheit.

Deputies conducted a search of the lake with the help of officials from the Branch and Wylie Fire Departments. The search produced nothing, so deputies suspended the search at 4 a.m. Monday. The search resumed the following morning, only to be suspended again “at dark,” Norton said.

Deputies and officers received additional assistance with their search with boats from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and the Branch and Wylie Fire Departments. The Texas Department of Public Safety also provided a helicopter to assist the search.

As of Wednesday, Norton said search parties have only found the capsized paddleboat and a pair of shoes that they believe belonged to Simmons. Search parties are continuing to comb the lake for Simmons’ body.

http://www.scntx.com/articles/2009/04/01/news_update/978.txt

[annalyzer]

Apr 1, 2009 3:55 pm US/Central

Teen Recounts Losing Boyfriend To Stormy Waters

COLLIN COUNTY (CBS 11 News) ― It started as a leisurely evening on the lake for 16-year-old Kimberly Clayton and her boyfriend, 18-year-old Michael Simmons.

Around 7:30 Monday night, they pushed their paddle boat onto Lake Lavon, which is behind Kimberly's home.

The wind started pushing them farther away from shore.

"The wind was blowing hard and it was dark outside," she said. "The water kept getting into the paddle boat,"

The little boat started to sink, and they decided to jump out. Neither of them had on life jackets.

"He tried to hold onto me, but I knew we were both going to drown if he did," she said. "I told him to let go, and I told him we had to swim to the paddle boat. I swam about 10 or 15 feet to the paddle boat, and I thought he was behind me until I turned around and he wasn't."

Kimberly tried to drag the boat to where Michael was, but couldn't fight the waves.

"I was screaming and screaming for him. And he was yelling back and after a few minutes, he stopped."

Kimberly began swimming to shore, still clinging to the boat. She swam almost a mile in 60-degree water.

She spent about two hours in the water, before making it to shore to get help.

"The only thing I could think of is, 'I didn't want to die.' I just couldn't. I'm only 16 -- I couldn't die there," she said.

Michael was nowhere to be seen. Rescue crews scanned the area for him Monday night and started searching on boats Tuesday. They resumed their search Wednesday morning.

Now, Kimberly says she can't think about getting back near a lake, and hopes others learn from what happened to her.

"I wish I hadn't gone out that day."

http://cbs11tv.com/local/missing.boaters.lake.2.973511.html

[Amusedtdth]

:1187603408.CR.Mothe

[Nut44x4]

His body has been found........
Date: Tuesday, April 07, 2009

Body of missing man recovered at Lake Lavon
After searching for more than a week, Michael A. Simmons' body was recovered this morning approximately 25 yards from the shore in the same area where the paddle boat capsized. The body was found by a resident of the area and was transported to the Collin County Medical Examiner’s Office.

At approximately 10:40pm, March 30, 2009, the Collin County Sheriff's Office received a call of two missing persons. Kimberly Clayton, a white female who is under the age of 17, and her friend Michael A. Simmons, a white male, 18 years of age, had gone for a ride on Lake Lavon in the Clayton family's paddle boat and had not returned.

Deputies responded to County Road 1053. Shortly after arriving at the location, Ms. Clayton was found near County Road 490 on the west side of Lake Lavon. Ms. Clayton advised that the paddle boat had capsized in Lake Lavon due to high winds and waves. Ms. Clayton was able to hold onto the boat, but was unable to determine what happened to Mr. Simmons.

At the time of the accident, the wind speed was approximately 18 mph. with 28 mph. gusts and the water temperature was between 59 and 64 F. A search was begun with assistance from Wylie Fire Department and Branch Fire Department. The search was suspended at approximately 4am.

The search for Mr. Simmons was resumed at approximately 7 a.m., March 31. The Collin County Sheriff's Office was assisted by boats from the Corps. Of Engineers, Texas Parks and Wildlife, Branch Fire Department, and Wylie Fire Department.

The Department of Public Safety helicopter also provided assistance from the air. A Collin County Sheriff's Office Command Post was established at Elm Creek Park to coordinate the search.

http://www.farmersvilletimes.com/articles/templates/news.asp?articleid=591&zoneid=5

[emmeblu]

:cray: This is such a sad, tragic accident.
Heartbreaking.

I am so glad his body was found. Kids just never see any danger. :1222423: