Memorial Day weekend marks the unofficial start of summer boating season. That means more traffic on the water, new first-time operators, and extra swimmers joining in on the fun across Texas. All of these can increase the danger of accidents and deaths.
According to the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department, in 2025, 58 people died in open water drownings, meaning they weren’t associated with any kind of boating activity. 50 people died in boating incidents, and in 84% of those, the victim was not wearing a lifejacket. That’s a 108% increase from the previous year.
Joe Pool Lake in Grand Prairie is a popular boating location, and lots of people enjoyed the water and beautiful scenery on Sunday…