Two boats crashed on the Laguna Madre early Saturday. A 16-year-old boy died in the crash.
The crash happened around 6:15 a.m. on July 25. It happened near the Bird Island Basin boat ramp. That ramp sits in Kleberg County, right on the Laguna Madre. This bay is a long strip of water. It sits between the Texas mainland and Padre Island.
Texas Game Wardens are leading the case. They said a small flat boat, called a jon boat, was carrying three people. It hit a bigger boat called a center console. The 16-year-old boy flew out of the jon boat in the crash. He did not survive.
This crash hits close to home for South Texas families. Summer is the busiest time on Gulf Coast waters. Many Rio Grande Valley families drive up the coast each summer. They go to fish and boat near Padre Island. This crash shows how fast these waters can turn deadly.
Many groups rushed to help after the crash. The Kleberg County Sheriff's Office sent deputies. Rangers from Padre Island National Seashore came too. So did Corpus Christi police and fire crews. U.S. Border Patrol helped as well. Game wardens from Nueces and Kleberg counties worked the scene together.
A special crash team now runs the case. It is called the Boat Accident Reconstruction Team. Their job is to find out what caused boat wrecks like this one. So far, game wardens have not said what caused the two boats to hit.
Texas Game Wardens gave a short statement. "Our thoughts and prayers are with the young man's family during this difficult time," the agency said.
Officials have not named anyone in the crash. They have not named the other two people on the jon boat. They have not said who drove each boat. They also have not said how many people rode on the center console boat. El Tejano is not naming the 16-year-old. He is a minor, so we protect his name.
No charges have been filed. The case is still open. Game wardens still need to find out what caused the crash. They have not said when they will share more facts.
The Laguna Madre is a shallow bay along the Texas coast. It runs from near Corpus Christi down to South Padre Island. Fishermen and boaters use it all year. Windsurfers use it too. Bird Island Basin is a popular boat ramp. It sits inside Padre Island National Seashore. Visitors come from all over South Texas, including the Valley.
Boat crashes like this often happen when it is hard to see. They also happen when boats move fast in tight spaces. Early morning can be extra risky on open water. The light is still dim. Other boats can be hard to spot.
This is a developing story. El Tejano will update this story as game wardens learn more. We will share new facts about the cause. We will also share news if anyone faces charges.
