When are you required to report a boating accident to the TPWD by the quickest means possible?

Reporting a boating accident to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) by the quickest means possible is required if a person dies or disappears. This requirement is in place because fatalities or disappearances are serious incidents that necessitate immediate attention and response from authorities. Reporting these cases promptly helps to initiate search and rescue operations, gather necessary information for investigations, and ensure safety measures are addressed to prevent similar incidents in the future.

In contrast, while property damage, injuries, or collisions are also significant events that warrant reporting, they do not carry the same immediacy as situations involving loss of life or a person being missing. Therefore, the law prioritizes reporting seen as life-threatening or potentially life-threatening circumstances above other types of incidents.