Man Missing in Trinity Flood Water

DAYTON, November 1, 2009 - The Dayton Police Department and Dayton Volunteer Fire Department are conducting a search on property currently under water due to the flooding of the Trinity River just north of Winfree Street on FM 1008.

According to City of Dayton Police Officer Robby Thornton three men on horseback were herding cattle from low ground to high ground because of rising water on Sunday afternoon.

Around 4:00 PM Sunday afternoon two of the men were in high water and a third went around behind the cattle. That is the last the two men saw of the third man. The two men went back to their trailer near the highway to regroup and then returned to where they last saw the third man searching for him. The third man's horse returned to the staging area of the cattle operation but there was no sign of the man.

As night approached the men realized they would need additional help and called police.

According to Officer Thornton they received the call, summoned the Dayton Volunteer Fire Department and around 7:00 PM started the search. At 11:30 PM the Fire Department had four small boats in the water looking for the man.

A large number of friends and family gathered along FM 1008 to wait out the outcome of the search.

According to a family member the missing man was identified as Gene Roberts, thought to be in his forties of Dayton. Roberts is an experienced horseman.