Basketball coach found dead and 8-year-old daughter missing after Christmas Eve tragedy

The search for his daughter continues

Will Robinson, a high school basketball coach, was killed in Sherman, Texas, after his SUV was swept away by unforgiving floodwaters with five other family members in the vehicle.

While four members of the family were rescued, Mr Robinson was found dead while his eight-year-old daughter, Clara, remains missing.

An extensive search is underway after the tragic Christmas Eve incident which has devasted the family.

Lieutenant Samuel Boyle said that the incident "likely had to do with a large accumulation of water and maybe some hydroplaning, which is a very dangerous situation."

He added: "Once they're in that drainage ditch, they're really at the mercy of the water flow and the speed at which that's going down. It's a tragedy, it really is."

Following the tragic death, tributes poured in for Mr Robinson on Facebook.

His cousin Susan Sumsurf wrote: "This is just devastating, and happening on Christmas Eve makes it unbearable.

"Will was one of the good ones—a devoted husband and father, a beloved basketball coach, and just a great person."

A teaching colleague also paid tribute and said: "They ALL hurt, but this one is also painful, hard to understand or even stomach. In my flesh, I keep asking, 'why?'

"Encouraged to see so many people honouring your Legacy and the type of young man you were. A Christian Coach and not just a coach who happened to be a Christian. Well Done Sir."

In a statement, the Sherman Police Department said: "Lastly, but most importantly, we ask everyone to please respect the privacy the family is asking for at this time, in this unimaginable period of grief.

"When we have an update to this case that we can share, we will let everyone know."

They also thanked the community for their support: "Sherman, you all are relentlessly kind in many ways – how you continually want to bring us snacks and beverages, for example.

"Respectfully, we do not need anything else at this time. Receiving those donations requires some work, and right now, 100 percent of our efforts need to be focused on finding this 8-year-old girl."

Lieutenant Boyle issued a warning for other drivers considering taking to the roads.

He said to KXII: "Please drive very carefully. Even if you think your vehicle can make it through some large standing water, please consider going around and taking another route because once you hit that standing water, you've really lost control of your vehicle."