Good Samaritans rescued four other people from the water after their boat capsized and went under about half a mile east of the Lynchburg Ferry, the USCG said.
HARRIS COUNTY, Texas — The Coast Guard and other local, state and federal agencies spent hours searching for a missing person who was on board a tugboat that sank in the Houston Ship Channel Friday afternoon.
Five people from the boat were in the water after it capsized and went under about half a mile east of the Lynchburg Ferry.
Around 9:15 p.m., the Coast Guard said they would suspend search efforts for the night and reevaluate in the morning.
Coast Guard Commander Michael Cortese said four were quickly rescued by good Samaritans and they’re expected to be OK but the fifth person hasn’t been found.
“I’d like to thank the good Samaritans that sprang into action — that were in the general vicinity when the incident happened. They’re really the lifesavers that get the credit for saving those four mariners,” Cortese said.
They have boats and helicopters searching for that person near the south end of the Lynchburg Ferry.
The Harris County Sheriff’s Office and Houston Police Department sent boats and dive teams to join the search. Cortese said Texas Parks and Wildlife and the Army Corps of Engineers were also helping.
“This is a multi-level response operation,” Cortese said. “We’re all engaged to locate the missing individual and keep the water safe and all the traffic away from here so no harm can come to other boaters.”
Cortese said the 50-foot-long “Miss Peggy” tugboat capsized and went under down around 2 p.m.
He said an investigation would be done to determine why the boat sank once the search and recovery mission ended.
The search hasn’t affected ferry operations.
The vessel is owned by Houston Fleeting Services, which is owned by Ingram Barge Company. They said they would not release a statement on Friday night.
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