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HARRIS COUNTY, Texas (KTRK) — A section of the San Jacinto River in northeast Harris County, known as Banana Bend, has become infamous for drowning incidents. This stretch runs from the Lake Houston Dam to Highway 90 and is where the Harris County Sheriff’s Office responds to more drownings than anywhere else in the area.
Lt. David Jasper reported three drowning deaths in this area this year, including a tragic incident on Father’s Day where a 14-year-old girl and her 38-year-old father both drowned.
“She slipped and fell in the water,” Jasper said. “He went in to rescue her, and they both wound up drowning.”
In 2023, six drownings occurred in this river stretch, including a 53-year-old man attempting to swim from the river to the shore and a young brother and sister who drowned while their father was packing up their car.
Jasper highlighted several factors contributing to the danger: the high number of people, varying swimming abilities, alcohol consumption, and the absence of lifeguards. The murky water also hides the river’s true depth, adding to the risk.
Deputy Darrell Bailey emphasized the unpredictable and hazardous nature of the river’s current.
“The current is something you can’t account for,” Bailey noted.
To stay safe, the department advises always wearing a life jacket, as Jasper pointed out they have never recovered a drowning victim who was wearing one. They also recommend not entering the water alone, monitoring alcohol intake, and being aware of the river’s rapidly changing depth.
Jasper estimated that 90% of drownings could be prevented by following these common-sense safety practices.