Friday night a male and two females decided to take their pontoon boat
to Lakeview Marina on Lake Conroe. As they got to the mouth of Atkins Creek the engine quit. Within minutes the intense winds started blowing the boat across the lake almost like a sailboat.
The trio got to the dam and called 911 for help. Montgomery County Sheriff’s Deputy Michael Jackson who was patrolling on 105 heard the call. He immediately entered the area of the dam near the Lake Patrol office and raced across the road at the top of the dam to get t the trio. Once there , with the high winds, almost 4 foot waves and rain he climbed down the steep embankment of large rocks called riprap. These huge rocks were added to the rock already there after Hurricane Rita damaged part of the dam in 2005 and again Ike in 2008.
The deputy safely removed the trio from the boat and placed them in his vehicle to warm up.
Lt. Cade of the Montgomery County Precinct 1 Constables Office Lake patrol arrived next. He was able to get a line on the boat which was being battered against the dam by the winds and waves. Tow Boats USA, a towing service on the lake also responded and was able to connect to the line Cade put in place and tow the boat to a marina.
The three were not injured but called Jackson a hero. With the damage to the boat and the conditions Cade did not believe the three could have made it much longer without being thrown into the frigid waters. All three did have life vests on.
Cade also warned boaters to check weather conditions before getting on the lake. There is nothing to break the blowing wind on an open lake and even an anchor most likely would not have held the boat.
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