Search resumes for 8-year-old girl in Sherman's Post Oak Creek after fatal car crash

Search and rescue teams resumed their search Thursday morning for an 8-year-old girl after a car hydroplaned off U.S. 75 and into Post Oak Creek, and again after inclement weather paused the search.

"We're doing everything we can to find her," Sherman Police Lt. Samuel Boyle said Thursday afternoon.

First responders from Sherman Fire-Rescue, Sherman Police Department and Texas Task Force 2 set out at 7 a.m. Thursday to resume search efforts. Unfortunately, the forecast for rain paused the active search for the safety of the rescue teams. Sherman police said observation posts were maintained throughout the search area until the search could resume.

"We've used a number of different things -- we've used dive teams, we've put people in kayaks, we have K9 teams out, we've used drones as frequently and as often as possible," Boyle said.

At approximately 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday, a vehicle careened off U.S. 75 and became trapped in a drainage ditch of Post Oak Creek. The vehicle continued to travel down the creek towards Houston Street until first responders were able to reach them near Highway 56, according to a statement from Sherman PD.

The Sherman Police Department and Sherman Fire-Rescue were able to rescue four of the six passengers in the vehicle and one body was recovered several hours later, police said.

Two people were treated at a local hospital and released, two others who were hospitalized have since been discharged according to Boyle.

On Wednesday morning, Texas Governor Greg Abbott approved state search and rescue teams to assist with the continued search for the missing 8-year-old girl. Crews continued to look for the girl overnight.

On Wednesday night, Sherman police thanked the public for its support but said no additional volunteers, equipment, or snacks and beverages for first responders were needed.

The message read in part:

"In crises like these, we are blessed to serve a community that so badly wants to help in any way they can.  We have dozens of first responders involved in this search, many with extensive training in searching in hazardous conditions.  We currently do not need any additional volunteers.

"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% of our efforts need to be focused on finding this 8-year-old girl."

The identities of the passengers have not been released. Police did say they were traveling from Southern Oklahoma to McKinney.

If anyone does have any information that may be helpful to search efforts, call the Sherman Police Department’s non-emergency number (903) 892-7290.