Harris County Sheriff's Office Highlights Water Safety Tips on Dangerous Section of San Jacinto River After Tragic Incidents

HARRIS COUNTY, Texas (KTRK) — There is a stretch of the San Jacinto River in northeastern Harris County that has become notorious for fatal drownings. It is a stretch from Lake Houston Dam to Interstate 90, traditionally called Banana Bend.

A Harris County Sheriff's Office lieutenant told ABC13 the department responds to more drownings in that area than anywhere else in the region.

Lt. David Jasper said there have been three drowning deaths this year. Among them, a 14-year-old girl and her 38-year-old father drowned on Father's Day.

“She slipped and fell into the water,” Jasper said. “He went to rescue her and they both ended up drowning.”

Jasper added that there have been six drownings in that stretch of the river in 2023. Among them was a 53-year-old man who was trying to swim from the river to shore.

A younger brother and sister also drowned in 2023 while their father was loading their car.

“I think what makes this activity dangerous is the number of people, their swimming ability, their alcohol consumption and the fact that there are no lifeguards on duty,” Jasper explained.

Jasper also explained that people in the water don't know how deep it actually is because of its cloudy color.

Harris County Deputy Sheriff Darrell Bailey added that the river's current also poses a great danger.

“That's what you can't take into account,” he said of the current.

The ministry's advice for staying safe starts with wearing a life jacket.

“We haven't found anyone wearing a life jacket yet,” Jasper said.

Jasper and Bailey also recommended not going into the water alone, monitoring your alcohol consumption and being aware that the river depth can change quickly.

Jasper estimates that 90% of drownings could be prevented by adopting common sense practices like these.

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