UPDATE ON LAKE CONROE FATAL BOAT CRASH

On Saturday, July 10, at 2:52 am, Montgomery County Dispatch received a call regarding a boat accident. The caller stated that a boat ran aground near Margaritaville on Lake Conroe. The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Department, Fire and Rescue, and Texas Game Wardens responded. When first responders arrived, three individuals were stabilized with severe injuries and transported to area hospitals. 56-year old Earl Schneider Jr. of Buda was located in the water near where the boat ran aground. He was non-responsive and later pronounced deceased. Montgomery County District Attorney’s Accident Investigation Team responded to the crash site and to the hospital to assist with the investigation. The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s STORM (Boat Accident Reconstruction) Team and Montgomery County Precinct 1 Constable’s Office are also assisting with the investigation. Updates will be provided as information becomes available.

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Comments (6)

Eric Dixon Jul 17, 2021 at 9:59AM

I’m sure the driver was Brad Rice. He basically offered me and a buddy on July 3 to take a look at his boat when I commented to him nice boat, which then turned into him starting the boat and taking off with us in it to show us the boat. We went from party grove and he drove 60 mph going within 20 feet of one person wake surfing (some black ski boat he knocked the surfer off the wake he got so close), he flew into a cove with people in the water and almost lost control trying to turn at 50+ mph and had to slam it in idle pretty close to a bulk head. The sad thing is I’m not sure he was aware how wreckless and improper he was being. He wouldn’t stop and kept us on the boat longer then we wanted, we were just trying to get back to our spot. I was demanding him to stop acting this way and we need to go back, and you can’t do that kind of stuff on a lake. He went under the bridge (where I saw a cop and actually though about jumping off his boat), and back under it, circled around a cabin cruiser at a high speed and then took us back. He wasn’t listening, it was the scariest boat road I have ever been on. He got a call from somebody named Steve as well and handed me the phone, quite akward. As we left party grove there were 2 cops heading that way, assuming somebody may have called it on him. As soon as he dropped us off we left. I’m not sure what happened in July 10, if alcohol was involved or not, but he drove violently. I’m sure the people he drove near will remember this boat.

Concerned Citizen Jul 24, 2021 at 10:01AM

Please contact:

brannon.meinkowsky@tpwd.texas.gov

Reply
Concerned Citizen Jul 25, 2021 at 9:26AM

Please contact Game Warden

brannon.meinkowsky@tpwd.texas.gov

The investigation is ongoing and this information would be helpful.

Reply

TC Jul 23, 2021 at 7:20PM

I’m sorry that happened. You really didn’t need to leave a name. That information has not been out yet. Respect still for all families involved would be appreciated.

Concerned Citizen Jul 24, 2021 at 9:58AM

Eric Dixon,

Would you please contact Game Warden Brannon Meinkowsky at
brannon.meinkowsky@tpwd.texas.gov

Your information could be so helpful in the oncoming investigation.

Joi Mar 01, 2022 at 1:33PM

Let me preface this by saying that I do not condone or understand this behavior out of Brad. It’s a tragedy beyond comprehension almost for all parties esp for the Schneider family and my heart goes out to them. I want to tell you who Brad is tho. He’s a retired USAF pilot. Graduated with honors from the AF Academy where he also played competitively on the tennis team. While serving he flew the largest plane existing with troops and/or equipment into battle zones. He was remarkably precise with every action he took in life. That’s why I am so shocked and sad to see this happening on his part but as I said before, more so for Mr Schneider and the other two involved, but wow this is out of character to the furtherest degree. After the AF he flew for a private airline in the states for 20 yrs or so. I’m not sure exact number of years bc we had lost touch yrs ago. I’m not sure what has occurred in life that has caused such a complete turn in the other direction. I suspect the stress of being responsible for so many lives in such a precarious way as flying is with the additional stress of the Afghanistan war. I imagine the specific level of stress of that particular type of pilot had something to do with this about face. Brad once flew Hillary Clinton to a destination in the states for something. Can’t recall reason. I did see the game warden respond here so let me say that if Brad was fishing, yrs ago when I knew him, nothing world be done without the utmost safety and proper license, equipment and so forth. This is beyond shocking to hear of his erratic behavior bc Ive only known him to be overly cautious esp with other lives. To hear that he was not safe with the boat esp with others close by and on board is astonishing. I’ve been on a boat with Brad and he was almost overly cautious. I assumed that was because of his military training and further career choices. He took on massive responsibility for many lives. The fact that someone lost their life while in his care after his retirement is more than shocking bc of the responsibility he’s always had. Since he was in College. I know that none of that matters now and I am not trying to make excuses for that kind of behavior. I’m just not sure how this change came about. He always has been and is still an upstanding person. A man to look up to. I have spoken with him and know that this has devastated him as well. I read that other situations were occurring around the time if the accident and those as well are very bizarre for him. He’s not a person who has ever drank much. Never. So that was surprising to me as well. I just wanted to say these things about him bc it’s most unusual for such an tragedy as this to be the result of bad decisions from a man I knew to be so responsible and professional as he. It’s way out of character. It’s as far out of character as I’ve ever seen and I’m a mental health professional. I thought maybe you should know who he is/was. This is a devastating blow for all involved. Even the driver. Gods Peace. I hope the Schneider family will heal over their tremendous loss.
I don’t think we can know what lies ahead for all of us. No matter the precautions we take with our lives. Things can change in an instant. May God bless all involved.
Brad wouldn’t tell anyone these things about himself so I wanted to tell you myself. He’s also a humble man. I just can’t comprehend this. And he wasn’t one that had a professional face and a party face. He was as straight as they come through and through. This is most unusual turn I’ve seen in him.

UPDATE ON LAKE CONROE FATAL BOAT CRASH

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