‘Burial by sea’: 300-pound gator hit, dragged for nearly a mile, then dumped into San Jacinto River

A driver is likely going to have to file a unique insurance claim after his vehicle was damaged when he hit and dragged a 10-foot gator in Montgomery County.

Anthony Jackson was driving the posted speed heading eastbound on the Grand Parkway around 3 a.m. Thursday. As he was crossing the San Jacinto Bridge, he hit a 300-pound gator that was in the road and dragged it under his vehicle for nearly a mile, according to authorities.

Jackson was not injured, but the gator did not survive the crash, officials said. It was loaded onto a wrecker while officials waited for a decision from the game warden about what to do with the body.

Ultimately, the game warden decided on a “burial by sea” and the gator’s body was dumped into the San Jacinto River.

A driver hit a 300-poound gator while driving over the San Jacinto Bridge Thursday, May 6, 2021. (KPRC 2)
A driver hit a 300-poound gator while driving over the San Jacinto Bridge Thursday, May 6, 2021. (KPRC 2)

About the Author:

Daniela Sternitzky-Di Napoli has been a digital news editor at KPRC 2 since 2018. She is a published poet and has background in creative writing and journalism. Daniela has covered events like Hurricane Harvey and the Astros World Series win. In her spare time, Daniela is an avid reader and loves to spend time with her two miniature dachshunds.