Harris County authorities recovered the body of a man on Tuesday after he went underwater at a privately-owned park in Crosby, Texas, and did not resurface.
The Harris County Sheriff’s Office said deputies responded to Xtreme Off Road Park and Beach at 1927 Gulf Pump Road, located along the San Jacinto River, following reports of a possible drowning. A dive team later recovered the man’s body from the water.
Park officials described the incident as unusual in a social media post. According to the park, four men arrived together in a truck, without an off-road vehicle, and headed to a body of water near the entrance. The group then challenged one of the men to cross the water, which was clearly marked as a no-swimming area.
The man struggled while trying to traverse the water and ultimately drowned, the park said. A witness reported that the other three men showed little concern as the situation unfolded, appeared eager to leave the scene, and refused to call 911.
The park noted that foul play has not been ruled out and said sheriff’s investigators were on scene.
Maj. Cedrick Collier of the Harris County Sheriff’s Office said authorities are still determining what led to the incident.
“We can’t tell if alcohol or anything like that’s involved, but what I gather is, someone came out here to possibly have a good time, and it turned tragic,” Collier said, KHOU 11 reported.
Signs at the lake include notices reading “No lifeguard on duty” and “Swim at your own risk,” though the park’s account also mentioned signs marked “No swimming allowed,” which can be seen in a video posted by the park.
The sheriff’s office said its investigation remains ongoing as deputies work to piece together the exact circumstances and assess whether any criminal activity took place. The identities of those involved have not been released.
No government agency regulates the property, and past fatalities have not prompted mandatory additional safety requirements.
This marks the latest in a series of deaths at the park in recent years. Earlier this month, a 19-year-old man died at the park when the ATV he was driving in the San Jacinto River capsized. An estimated 7 to 10 individuals have died in incidents at Xtreme Off Road since 2022, HTX Media reported.
