Breckenridge man dies at Hubbard Creek Reservoir
By Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan
A 21-year-old Breckenridge man identified as Kade Tyler Mercer by the Stephens County Sheriff’s Office died late Tuesday night at Hubbard Creek Reservoir .
According to Stephens County Sheriff Kevin Roach, his office received a call around 10:30 p.m. on Aug. 29 that there was a possible drowning on Water District Road 278. However, when deputies arrived at the lake, the caller had left the scene and they could not find the body.
“A kid reported that his friend was underwater and missing for 10 minutes at the area of The Rocks,” Roach said. “And while we were in route, dispatch told us that they had found him and had him out of the water but he was not responsive. And the person that called in had left the scene.”
Mercer died in an area known locally as “The Rocks,” which is in the general area of the park near Corley’s Landing. The area has steep rock formations along the water’s edge.
The Sheriff’s Office, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, Breckenridge Fire Department and Sacred Cross EMS were involved in the search along the shoreline, where Mercer’s body was found. The search was hampered by the rough terrain in the area. An air ambulance was initially called to the scene, but the call for helicopter support was later canceled. Emergency responders were on the scene until after 2 a.m.
Roach said the Sheriff’s Office located two individuals who had been at the scene with Mercer and left after he was found unresponsive, and those people were interviewed. “(They) were scared they would get in trouble and just made very poor decisions,” Roach said.
An autopsy is being conducted, and the death is under investigation by the Stephens County Sheriff’s office with assistance from the Texas Department of Public Safety. A cause of death has not been determined at this time, Roach said.
Mercer is the son of Breckenridge City Commissioner Gary Mercer and his wife, Vicki Mercer. He graduated from Breckenridge High School in 2020. Click here to read his obituary.
Cutline, top photo: A tree hangs over the area of Hubbard Creek Reservoir along an area known locally as “The Rocks” because of the steep rock formations along its banks. (Photo by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan)
