HARRIS COUNTY, Texas – On Monday, the Harris County Sheriff’s Office recovered the bodies of a 14-year-old girl and her father after a possible drowning incident in the San Jacinto River.
Deputies said they were swimming when they disappeared while visiting Xtreme Off Road Park and Beach.
In 2023, the sheriff’s office said three people drowned near Xtreme Park and one more person drowned at a nearby park, along the same stretch of the river.
Crosby volunteer firefighters told KPRC 2 that the main channel of the river has a strong current. What people might not see and can forget is there is an undercurrent that can be dangerous.
Before heading out on the San Jacinto River, there is one thing Gerardo Ledezma never forgets.
“Wear your life jacket all the time because that could save a lot of lives because you never know, the current could push you,” Ledezma said.
Ledezma works at a nearby Marina and rents out jet skis. He often see’s how dangerous the river can be.
“People aren’t mindful of how the water is, so they just think they can go in and they don’t even know what will happen after that,” he said.
The Harris County Sheriff’s Office shared tips on how to stay safe in the river:
- Wear a coast guard approved flotation device.
- Drink water to avoid cramps and fatigue while in the water.
- Avoid alcohol, it can cloud your judgement.
- Swim with a buddy.
Deputies have not said if the teen or her father were wearing life jackets or not.
The investigation is ongoing.
The latest drowning case is one of dozens of drowning-related deaths KPRC 2 has covered already this year. Here are some helpful links to stories KPRC 2 has covered including swimming lessons in the Greater Houston area or if you can swim, the city could use some lifeguards: