3 Austin-Area Men Killed After Boat Capsizes At Fayette Reservoir

AUSTIN, TX — Two Austin residents were among those found dead in the Fayette County Reservoir after a boat capsized this past weekend, law enforcement officials revealed on Wednesday.

Jerson Gregorio Figeroa, 42, and Antony Santos Reyes,50, of Austin were found on Saturday after a search of the area where the boat flipped over, according to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. Also found dead was Fredy Donaldo Figeroa Videz, 50, of Buda, officials said.

Texas Game Wardens and local law enforcement officials were notified of the incident on Saturday, Feb. 8, at around 10 p.m., Texas Parks and Wildlife Department spokeswoman Aubry Buzek confirmed to Patch via email. Wardens learned there were five men on board that had sunk on Fayette County Reservoir, the spokeswoman said in her prepared statement.

The three who died were in a group of five people on the boat, wardens said, two of whom swam safely to shore. Officials said one of the missing boaters was found on Monday, followed by the discovery of the two others a day later submerged in 14 to 16 feet of water near a power plant, officials said.

Aiding in the search were the Texas Game Wardens, Lower Colorado River Authority crews and Fayette County Sheriff’s Department deputies, according to the statement. It's unclear what caused the boat to capsize, and police continue to investigate.

"There are no other details to release at this time and the investigation is ongoing," the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department said.

While it's unclear what may have caused the boat to capsize, substantial rainfall swept through Central and South Texas at the start of the work week. Such downpours tend to make boating more challenging on waterways with resulting limited visibility, potential accumulation of debris and a strengthened movement of waves given sudden water deposits.

According to a Texas Parks and Wildlife Department website, the waterway is a power plant cooling reservoir located 10 miles east of LaGrange, Texas, in Fayette County. The body of water has a surface area of 2,400 acres with a maximum depth of 70 feet. The elevation of the reservoir located some 75 miles east of Austin is at 390 feet mean sea level, according to the site.

Formed in 1978, the reservoir is a popular fishing hole as it is stocked with largemouth bass, catfish, redear sunfish and other varieties of fish.