Print
E-mail
Comment
Rate
RFHS grad still missing
 |
| Jamie Wagner Sengvanhpheng is the reported driver of a 2004 Acura which drove off the north end of the Copano Causeway fishing pier early Friday, Dec. 26. His body had not been recovered as of press deadline Tuesday. Divers from the Corpus Christi Police Department searched the area around his submerged vehicle after daybreak, top. The search for Sengvanhpheng was hampered during the night due to heavy fog, bottom. Photos by MIKE PROBST |
By MIKE PROBST, Editor & Publisher
Jamie Wagner Sengvanhpheng, 21, a 2007 Rockport-Fulton High School graduate, is believed to have drowned after driving his 2004 Acura off the north end of the Copano Causeway fishing pier shortly before 2 a.m. Friday, Dec. 26. His body had not been recovered as of press deadline Tuesday.
The official search for Sengvanhpheng's body has been suspended, but family members reportedly continued to search the waters of Copano and Aransas bays Monday. Law enforcement is officially in recovery mode, as opposed to one of search and rescue.
Aransas County Sheriff Bill Mills said information about the events which occurred prior to the Acura plunging off the pier, is unclear, but noted he is confident the facts will surface.
Sengvanhpheng was at the 301 Club on Fulton Beach Road prior to driving through two barriers on the pier, one at its entrance, and the other at the end. A Sheriff's deputy responding to a reported fight at the club was southbound on the Copano Bay Causeway. He said he saw a vehicle traveling in the same direction, but on the fishing pier.
A call to Aransas County dispatchers regarding what turned out to be Sengvanhpheng's Acura was received about four minutes after the call was made reporting the fight at the 301 Club. The fight call was canceled approximately four minutes after the call about a vehicle being driven recklessly onto the pier was received.
At the pier, it was learned a couple from New Braunfels, who regularly fish at the pier, reported a reckless driver on the pier. They had reportedly attempted to fish, but came off the pier due to the foggy conditions. They were parked at the entrance to the pier, off to the side, when they heard a car's tires squealing. They watched Sengvanhpheng's vehicle for a short period of time, but it disappeared in the fog. When it did not return, they called dispatchers.
Mills, chief deputies Rick McLester and John Gutierrez, deputies Chris Molina and Michael Huffman, Sgt. Larry Sinclair of the Rockport Police Department, and Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Game Warden Marty Martin, as well as the Aransas County EMS, responded to the scene.
Martin, in a TPWD boat, located the submerged vehicle and marked the spot so divers, who were not able to respond that night, could inspect the area at daybreak. He also searched the area in the dense fog for signs of life. At that time, law enforcement officials had no idea how many people might have been in the vehicle, or if anyone had escaped, but conditions limited their search capabilities.
Soon after daybreak, divers from the Corpus Christi Police Department arrived and found no body in the vehicle which was tilted head-first on the bottom of the bay. Mills said before the Acura settled onto its roof, the divers were able to determine there were no bodies inside the vehicle, or in the general vicinity.
“The window was open and the seatbelt was disengaged,” said Mills.
The U.S. Coast Guard searched the area by helicopter Friday, but found no signs of life. The USCG also sent a fixed-wing aircraft to search the area Saturday, but found nothing.
Martin and fellow game warden, Scott McLeod, also searched the area Friday.
Mills, along with others, searched a wide area along the shore Saturday in his personal boat, but could find no sign of life. The sheriff said some items, reportedly contents of Sengvanhpheng's vehicle, had washed ashore at the south end of the causeway.
Mills learned Saturday Sengvanhpheng had recently been discharged from the military for medical reasons.
“We've talked to about 12 people who were with him earlier that night,” said Mills. “We believe something went on at the club, a triggering event, which might have changed his (Sengvanhpheng's) state of mind.”
He said the people interviewed have not been “very forthcoming” about what might have occurred.
Mills said when his deputies arrived at the 301 Club all parties involved in the reported fight outside the bar had left the scene.
He said the grass where the fight reportedly occurred was torn up, and some clothing was left at the scene.
Mills said the only confirmed report is Sengvanhpheng was at the club, drinking with his brother and friends, and at some point left the club at a high rate of speed, alone.
Sengvanhpheng missed a large barbecue pit, as well as a stationary fish-cleaning table at the entrance to the pier. Mills said there is no evidence the RFHS graduate hit the sides of the pier which stretches almost 1.5 miles before it ends near the hump in the causeway. The old causeway, which is now the fishing pier, was dismantled in that area so boats can safely pass through. Fishermen can access the pier from the north or south end, but can't traverse the width of the bay.
Anyone with information about the accident, including information about events which led up to the accident, are asked to call the sheriff's office at 729-2222.
The official search for Sengvanhpheng's body has been suspended, but family members reportedly continued to search the waters of Copano and Aransas bays Monday. Law enforcement is officially in recovery mode, as opposed to one of search and rescue.
Aransas County Sheriff Bill Mills said information about the events which occurred prior to the Acura plunging off the pier, is unclear, but noted he is confident the facts will surface.
Sengvanhpheng was at the 301 Club on Fulton Beach Road prior to driving through two barriers on the pier, one at its entrance, and the other at the end. A Sheriff's deputy responding to a reported fight at the club was southbound on the Copano Bay Causeway. He said he saw a vehicle traveling in the same direction, but on the fishing pier.
A call to Aransas County dispatchers regarding what turned out to be Sengvanhpheng's Acura was received about four minutes after the call was made reporting the fight at the 301 Club. The fight call was canceled approximately four minutes after the call about a vehicle being driven recklessly onto the pier was received.
At the pier, it was learned a couple from New Braunfels, who regularly fish at the pier, reported a reckless driver on the pier. They had reportedly attempted to fish, but came off the pier due to the foggy conditions. They were parked at the entrance to the pier, off to the side, when they heard a car's tires squealing. They watched Sengvanhpheng's vehicle for a short period of time, but it disappeared in the fog. When it did not return, they called dispatchers.
Mills, chief deputies Rick McLester and John Gutierrez, deputies Chris Molina and Michael Huffman, Sgt. Larry Sinclair of the Rockport Police Department, and Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Game Warden Marty Martin, as well as the Aransas County EMS, responded to the scene.
Martin, in a TPWD boat, located the submerged vehicle and marked the spot so divers, who were not able to respond that night, could inspect the area at daybreak. He also searched the area in the dense fog for signs of life. At that time, law enforcement officials had no idea how many people might have been in the vehicle, or if anyone had escaped, but conditions limited their search capabilities.
Soon after daybreak, divers from the Corpus Christi Police Department arrived and found no body in the vehicle which was tilted head-first on the bottom of the bay. Mills said before the Acura settled onto its roof, the divers were able to determine there were no bodies inside the vehicle, or in the general vicinity.
“The window was open and the seatbelt was disengaged,” said Mills.
The U.S. Coast Guard searched the area by helicopter Friday, but found no signs of life. The USCG also sent a fixed-wing aircraft to search the area Saturday, but found nothing.
Martin and fellow game warden, Scott McLeod, also searched the area Friday.
Mills, along with others, searched a wide area along the shore Saturday in his personal boat, but could find no sign of life. The sheriff said some items, reportedly contents of Sengvanhpheng's vehicle, had washed ashore at the south end of the causeway.
Mills learned Saturday Sengvanhpheng had recently been discharged from the military for medical reasons.
“We've talked to about 12 people who were with him earlier that night,” said Mills. “We believe something went on at the club, a triggering event, which might have changed his (Sengvanhpheng's) state of mind.”
He said the people interviewed have not been “very forthcoming” about what might have occurred.
Mills said when his deputies arrived at the 301 Club all parties involved in the reported fight outside the bar had left the scene.
He said the grass where the fight reportedly occurred was torn up, and some clothing was left at the scene.
Mills said the only confirmed report is Sengvanhpheng was at the club, drinking with his brother and friends, and at some point left the club at a high rate of speed, alone.
Sengvanhpheng missed a large barbecue pit, as well as a stationary fish-cleaning table at the entrance to the pier. Mills said there is no evidence the RFHS graduate hit the sides of the pier which stretches almost 1.5 miles before it ends near the hump in the causeway. The old causeway, which is now the fishing pier, was dismantled in that area so boats can safely pass through. Fishermen can access the pier from the north or south end, but can't traverse the width of the bay.
Anyone with information about the accident, including information about events which led up to the accident, are asked to call the sheriff's office at 729-2222.
 |
||
| Burglar(s) take off with $50,000 in merchandise |
Article Rating
Reader Comments
The following are comments from the readers. In no way do they represent the view of rockportpilot.com.
Submit a Comment
We encourage your feedback and dialog, all comments will be reviewed by our Web staff before appearing on the Web site.
cheri palmer wrote on Mar 15, 2009 10:38 PM: