Emergency crews rushed to Austin's Montopolis neighborhood just after midnight Monday after reports that a stand‑up paddleboard carrying multiple people and a kayaker were caught in a strong current near 90–98 Montopolis Drive. Fire and air units moved in on the stretch of the Colorado River while medics staged nearby, ready to evaluate anyone brought out of the water.
Austin‑Travis County EMS first flagged the incident on X shortly after midnight, describing it as a water rescue near 90–98 Montopolis Drive involving a paddleboard and a kayaker in distress. According to Austin‑Travis County EMS, the Austin Fire Department and Travis County STAR Flight coordinated the on‑scene response, with medics standing by for any needed treatment or transport.
Water Rescue 90-98 Montopolis Drive report of stand-up paddle boarder with multiple people on board and a kayaker in distress in a strong current. @austinfiredept @STAR_Flight_TC on scene. MTF
— ATCEMS (@ATCEMS) July 27, 2026
Rescue Crews Converge on the River
Austin Fire Department teams and Travis County STAR Flight were among the units called in, bringing boat crews and air support to a section of the Colorado River that can turn dangerous when dam releases pick up. The Travis County STAR Flight program describes its role as handling search and rescue operations and rapid medical transport across the county.
Why Currents Are So Dangerous Right Now
The City of Austin has already warned about high flows and temporarily pulled back some recreational access after release changes at Longhorn Dam and Tom Miller Dam. Those shifts can create stronger currents that grab small craft and pull them into trouble. The city extended a waterways ban earlier this week, the City of Austin said, with personal and commercial non‑motorized craft still prohibited in affected stretches while flood operations continue.
Safety guidance for paddlers stresses the basics: wear a U.S. Coast Guard‑approved life jacket, avoid going out alone, and steer well clear of dam outlets and fast‑moving channels. The paddling guide from Texas Parks & Wildlife also emphasizes checking local advisories and closures before launching and planning for rapidly changing currents on urban waterways.
For now, the Austin‑Travis County EMS alert remains the main public account of the Montopolis incident, and it did not list any confirmed injuries or transports at the time it was posted. City advisories and STAR Flight dispatch information fill in the broader safety picture for anyone thinking about paddling Austin's rivers while higher flows are in play.
