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Coast Guard reopens La Quinta Channel, man still missing

Posted at 7:35 PM, Dec 12, 2019
and last updated 2019-12-12 20:40:16-05

CORPUS CHRISTI, TEXAS — The Coast Guard reopened the La Quinta Channel to vessel traffic Thursday evening near Ingleside, Texas.

The closure began Tuesday when Coast Guard Sector/Air Station Corpus Christi watchstanders received notification that the vessel Cristi sank approximately 100 yards north of Ingleside Point at 10:30 a.m.

Two men were reported to be working onboard the vessel when it sank.

One crewmember was recovered by a good Samaritan vessel with no reported medical concerns.

The Coast Guard suspended its search Wednesday evening for the missing crew member aboard the vessel Cristi that sank in the La Quinta Channel near Ingleside, Texas.

Coast Guard crews searched over 143 square miles for approximately 31 hours.

“Our hearts are with his family and friends during this difficult time as it is never an easy decision to suspend a search for a missing loved one,” said Chief Warrant Officer Homar Barrera, search and rescue mission coordinator at Sector/Air Station Corpus Christi.

Due to the location of the sunken vessel, the La Quinta Channel was closed to vessel traffic.

The vessel was successfully raised and removed from the channel.

Containment boom was used to contain pollution and active recovery of oil continued throughout the salvage operation.

The cause of the vessel sinking is currently under investigation.