Local News
Janie Hunt and Renee Smajstrla Confirmed Deceased After Being Swept Away From Camp Mystic During Central Texas Flash Flooding
HUNT, Texas — Camp Mystic Director Dick Eastland has been confirmed among the victims of the devastating flash flooding that struck Central Texas earlier this week. Eastland, a beloved and longstanding figure at the all-girls summer camp in Hunt, Texas, passed away amid catastrophic flooding that claimed the lives of at least 24 people and left dozens more missing.
He was widely respected for his enduring resilience, having overcome personal tragedy—including the loss of his son and grandson—and a successful battle with brain cancer. His leadership and commitment to Camp Mystic left an indelible mark on generations of campers and staff.
Among those also confirmed deceased are Janie Hunt and Renee Smajstrla, whose bodies were recovered after historic floodwaters swept away one of the cabins at Camp Mystic along the Guadalupe River.
Ellen Troxclair confirmed to Channel 2 NOW that at least 10 individuals from Camp Mystic have been confirmed deceased, including longtime camp director Dick Eastland and several young campers.
This brings the total number of lives lost to at least 35, following the 25 fatalities reported the previous night.
The flooding followed more than 15 inches of rainfall in the area, causing the river to rise rapidly and inundate large portions of Kerr County.
Tornado Tacklers Statement: With heavy hearts, we share devastating news out of Texas tonight. State officials have confirmed that 13 young girls, ages 7 to 10, from Camp Mystic have tragically lost their lives due to the catastrophic flooding. At least 20 others remain unaccounted for as search and rescue efforts continue.
Authorities report that between 23 and 25 individuals, most of them children, remain unaccounted for as of Friday night.
The affected cabin, known as “Bubble Inn,” was among several buildings impacted by the deluge, which occurred in the early morning hours.
Search and rescue efforts have been ongoing, with state and local agencies operating throughout the night.
During a press conference Friday, Texas Governor Greg Abbott emphasized the severity of the disaster, declaring a state of emergency for multiple counties including Kerr, Gillespie, Comal, Llano, and Kendall. “This is a mass casualty event,” he stated, adding that “the response will continue nonstop until every person is accounted for.”
Infrared-equipped helicopters, operated by both state and federal teams, have been scanning the area throughout the night in hopes of locating survivors.
Texas Division of Emergency Management Chief Nim Kidd confirmed that while most summer camps along the Guadalupe River had safely reunited children with families, Camp Mystic remains the only camp with unaccounted individuals as of Friday evening.
More than 200 people have already been rescued, with 167 of them airlifted by helicopter, according to Major General Thomas M. Suelzer. Additional helicopters and resources are being deployed to support evacuation, shelter, and tracking operations.
Governor Abbott reiterated that every available state asset would be dedicated to recovery efforts. “We’ll put in everything we have in the entire state,” he said. “No resource will be withheld.”
The camp, which has operated for nearly a century, had approximately 750 girls in attendance at the time of the disaster.
Camp officials have communicated directly with families of those unaccounted for and continue to coordinate with rescue agencies.
As search and rescue operations extend into the weekend, the community is calling for national prayer support. Loved ones, faith leaders, and camp alumni across the country are uniting in prayer for the missing, the deceased, and the families affected by this tragedy.
Local News
Shaun Martin Holt, 37, and Dayna Rae McBride, 36, Killed in Beryl Highway Crash That Also Claimed Two Dogs
A devastating collision on Beryl Highway in Iron County, Utah, has claimed the lives of two people and their two beloved dogs, leaving their families and the surrounding community mourning an unimaginable loss.
Authorities identified the victims as 37-year-old Shaun Martin Holt, who was driving the sedan, and 36-year-old Dayna Rae McBride, his passenger. The two dogs traveling with them inside the vehicle also died at the scene.
According to the Iron County Sheriff’s Office, the fatal crash happened when a sedan traveling eastbound approached an intersection on Beryl Highway and collided with a school bus heading north. The force of the impact caused the bus to overturn, turning the collision into a serious emergency.
Investigators identified Holt and McBride as the two occupants of the sedan who lost their lives in the crash. Their deaths have brought profound sadness to those who knew them, while the loss of their two dogs has added another heartbreaking dimension to the tragedy.
Witnesses reportedly told investigators that the sedan was traveling at a high rate of speed before the collision. However, authorities have not announced a final determination regarding the cause of the crash. The investigation remains ongoing, and officials will need to establish the full circumstances surrounding the incident.
Although the school bus was involved in a serious collision, no children were aboard at the time.
According to the information released, the bus had already completed its student drop-off route for the Escalante Valley Elementary School District. Only the bus driver and a bus aide were inside the vehicle when the crash occurred.
Both were injured and transported to area hospitals for treatment. Their conditions have not been publicly released.
The fact that no students were on the bus was a significant relief amid an otherwise devastating incident. Nevertheless, the driver and aide now face recovery from injuries sustained in the collision.
The Iron County School District released a statement expressing concern for the injured school transportation employees and offering condolences to the families of those who died.
“Our thoughts are with the bus driver and aide who are being treated at area hospitals for their injuries. We also extend our deepest condolences and prayers to the family of those who died in this accident,” the district stated.
The district also noted that this was the third school-bus-related accident reported during the year and the second fatal one in 2026, making the incident particularly painful for the local community.
Authorities continue working to determine exactly what led to the collision at the Beryl Highway intersection. While witness accounts reportedly described the sedan as traveling at a high rate of speed, the precise cause has not yet been officially established.
Investigators will examine the available evidence as they work to reconstruct the events leading up to the crash. Further details may be released as the investigation progresses.
The deaths of Shaun Martin Holt and Dayna Rae McBride represent two lives lost far too soon. They were traveling together with their two dogs when the collision occurred, and all four were lost in the tragedy.
For their loved ones, the loss is immeasurable. Family members and friends are now left with grief, memories, and the difficult task of moving forward without them.
The crash has also affected the school bus driver and aide who were injured, as well as the wider Escalante Valley community.
Please keep the families and friends of Shaun Holt and Dayna McBride in your thoughts, along with the injured bus driver and aide and everyone affected by this heartbreaking incident.
May Shaun Martin Holt, Dayna Rae McBride, and their two beloved dogs rest in peace. May their families find comfort, strength, and support during this difficult time.