On April 14, 2011 at 5: 44 pm Benbrook Fire Department, Cresson Fire Department and Tarrant County Sheriff where dispatched to Mustang Park Peninsula Point to a call of a capsized boat.  Deputy, of the Tarrant County Sheriff Department, noticed a small overturned boat drifting about 500 yards of the end of Peninsula Point and the high winds were carrying the vessel out into the center of Lake Benbrook.  

Deputy, spoke with witnesses who saw the overturned boat and made the 911 call.  The witnesses stated that they had seen 4 to 5 people on the boat and they all appeared to be wearing lifejackets.  They stated that the boat was in the middle of the lake and was headed southeast into the wind.  The waves appeared to be cresting over the bow of the boat.  The boat then appeared to turn right and head toward the peninsula at which time the winds and waves flipped the boat over.  The occupants of the boat began to yell for help.

Cresson Fire Department arrived at 1809 hours and Benbrook Fire Department at 1819 hours.  Benbrook Fire Department located and made contact with the boat at around 1835 hours, two adults and three children were pulled from the water but one child was missing.  Benbrook Firefighter dove into the water and recovered the 5 year old victim.  Victim was wearing his lifejacket and had gotten trapped under the capsized boat when it flipped.  Firefighter stated that when the boat capsized no air pocket had formed and Victim was unable to get out from under the hull.  Victim had been underwater for approximately 50 minutes.  Firefighters transferred Victim to the resuce boat and cut off his lifejacket and began cpr.  Victim was not responsive and did not have a pulse.  The rescue boat made shore at approximately 1855 hours.  Victim was transferred to an ambulance where EMT's continued cpr until he was transported by PHI Helicopter to Cook Children's Hospital at approximately 1924 hours.  

Cresson and Benbrook EMT's checked all other passengers in the boat.  No injuries were found and they were released at the scene.  EMT's and firefighters so no evidence of drug or alcohol use.

Operator’s wife later stated that the family had received the boat as a gift.  They had arrived at Mustang Park at Benbrook Lake around 1700 hours to test the boat.  All of the children were wearing their lifejackets but the parents were not.  At around 1735 hours the wind really began to pick up and they headed back to the boat ramp.  The waves were crashing over the bow of the boat and the boat was taking on water and began to sink.  Operator slowed down due to poor visibility and when he did the outboard motor stalled.  Then the winds and waves capsized the boat.  Two people where on one side of the capsized boat and three others were on the other side of the boat.  They placed the children on top of the capsized boat and then Operator began diving looking for Victim but was unable to locate him.  

At approximately 2129 hours, Tarrant County Medical Examiner's Office notified Tarrant County Sheriff Office dispatch that Victim had died.

The boat was finally recovered on 04/26/2011 by the Army Corp of Engineers.  Upon locating the vessel it had suffered severe damage.  Both sides of the vessel are gone and the only part of the transom to survive was protected by the motor mounting bracket.  The boat was finally identified by the outboard motor mounting bracket seriel number plate.  The boat was a total loss.  Any other contents that may have been in the boat are unknown.

Benbrook                      