Two men drown at Morris Sheppard Dam

This story was updated from a previous article.

Two men died Friday evening after their boat was swept into the Morris Sheppard Dam discharge area and capsized on the Brazos River, according to Texas Parks and Wildlife Game Warden Michael Foster.

“TPWD search and rescue swift water team was activated and recovered one subject,” Foster said.

The Game Warden said the two men of Graford and Milsap have been identified, their families have been notified and are in the loop of ongoing recovery efforts. Names of the men will not be released until the second body has been recovered.

“With the required opening of a second gate at Possum Kingdom it has expanded our search area significantly and we are now moving down river,” Foster said. “We have got wardens in Palo Pinto County, Parker County and Hood County all on alert to be running daily patrols along the Brazos during the time the two gates are operational.”

He said Palo Pinto County Sheriff’s Office and the Brazos River Authority have been assisting in recovery efforts. When the BRA closes the gates to the dam, Foster said TPWD will begin searching the river beds with full force including use boat, aviation and unmanned aerial vehicle patrols.

Foster said according to consistent witness statements, the boat ended up in an eddy, or a horizontal circular pattern at the surface of the water which creates a suction towards the Morris Sheppard Dam, and lost motor power and were sucked towards the dam.

For the rest of the story, see the Wednesday, June 5 edition of The Graham Leader and Lake Country Sun.