Father of missing Texas State student continues searching for answers
AUSTIN, Texas — Kent Landry has been out searching for his 21-year-old son, Jason Landry, for the last two days in rural Luling, Texas.
"All I know is my son was in a car crash, he walked away from that car crash, and he’s hurt and he’s alone and he’s out here,” said Kent. “And I just want my boy found.”
Jason was first reported missing early Monday morning, after authorities found Jason’s Nissan Altima crashed and abandoned along Salt Flat Road, roughly 10 minutes away from downtown Luling, according to a Texas Department of Public Safety official.
Jason, a Texas State Student was on his way to see family and friends back home near Houston.
“They’ve had helicopters, drones [out here],” said Kent on Tuesday. “They have water team is out right now today, they’re investigating all the ponds and the rivers, and the creeks around here. There are horse teams. There are dog teams going. They found some scents and are trying to make sense out of it."
Sargent Deon Cockrell with DPS says right now they believe Jason ran off the road and crashed, but he was still able to get out of his car.
Authorities do not suspect foul play or that alcohol was involved.
“There are no lights out here, it’s cows and oil, grasshoppers and a few scattered homes, and it’s very dark. Was he going around the curve? Was he not paying attention?” said Kent. “I mean none of it makes sense, so all you can do is hope and pray.”
Kent believes his son may have ended up in the rural road accidentally while using a navigation app. Once on the road, he believes his son could have been startled by an animal or could not see the road clearly. He also thinks it is possible his son could have suffered from some type of concussion in the crash.
“Oh without a question,” said Kent. “Because [the car] actually ended up going sideways and hitting trees on his driver’s side. [There’s] no side impact airbags on his car, it’s an old car.”
DPS officials say multiple agencies have assisted in the search including Texas Search and Rescue, Department of Emergency Management, Luling PD, Caldwell County Sheriff’s Office, the Department of Parks and Wildfire, Weimer PD and a couple of officers from Texas State.
Kent says all this help and prayers from family and strangers is keeping his family's spirits going.
“He had a great big heart, he loved people, he loved his friends,” said Kent. "Just come home son, just come home."
