Houston boy drowns at Vidor water park

Erik Onstott
The Orange Leader

June 21, 2009 10:50 pm

— A 9-year-old boy from Houston drowned Sunday afternoon during a Father’s Day trip to Rose City’s Boomtown Water Park, according to a news release from Detective Chad Hogan of the Orange County Sheriff’s Department.
Orange County sheriff’s deputies responded to the park at 3:45 p.m.; upon their arrival deputies learned that the boy — identified as Andre Johnson — had been swimming with family members and gotten away from the group, according to Hogan.
Upon realizing Johnson was missing, family members searched for him, assisted by other water park attendees and lifeguards. After an approximately 20-minute search on land and water, Johnson was located in 7 to 8 feet of water; he was brought to shore where CPR was performed; lifeguards were unable to revive Johnson.
Orange County Precinct 3 Justice of the Peace Janice Menard responded and pronounced Johnson dead at the scene and ordered an autopsy.