Investigators said the SUV left the eastbound lanes, crossed a grassy embankment and landed upside down in the water.
HARRIS COUNTY, Texas — Authorities identified the man who died after his SUV veered off the Grand Parkway and overturned in a retention pond near Northcrest Drive on Sunday afternoon.
The Harris County Sheriff’s Office identified the driver as 51-year-old Joseph Mariano. Investigators said Mariano was traveling east in a Nissan Rogue in the 6000 block of North Grand Parkway West when the vehicle moved from the outside lane onto the shoulder.
The SUV continued down a grassy embankment and went airborne before entering the retention pond near an Amazon facility, Harris County Sheriff’s Office Sgt. Beau Beaty said. Images released from the scene showed the vehicle upside down in the water with its wheels above the surface.
Emergency crews removed Mariano from the vehicle and performed CPR, according to the sheriff’s office. He was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Authorities did not report any other confirmed injuries.
The crash occurred near Northcrest Drive, State Highway 99 and Gosling Road in the Spring area of northwest Harris County. Precinct 4 deputies and sheriff’s office investigators responded to the scene Sunday as emergency crews worked around the partially submerged vehicle.
Authorities restricted traffic on the Grand Parkway while investigators examined the crash scene. Officials did not immediately release details about how long the restrictions remained in place or whether the roadway had fully reopened.
Investigators have not said why the SUV left the travel lanes. No information was released about whether speed, a medical problem, road conditions or another factor may have contributed to the crash.
Officials also have not announced whether any witnesses saw the vehicle leave the road. The sheriff’s office continued investigating the sequence of events leading to the crash.
The crash remains under investigation, and authorities have not released any additional findings about its cause.
Author note: Last updated August 3, 2026.