State warns of summer water risks after Millbrook drowning

A juvenile died in a Saturday drowning at Jackson Lake Island in Millbrook, and the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency is again warning families that water activities carry inherent risk. The death in Autauga County has sharpened a summer safety message that now stretches beyond one local tragedy.

The Millbrook Police Department said the drowning happened Saturday morning at Jackson Lake Island. The victim was identified as a teen, and the community has been mourning the death. For families in Millbrook and Prattville, the loss lands in the middle of a season when private pools, neighborhood gatherings, creeks and regional recreation spots are already part of the routine.

ALEA said the warning applies to pools, lakes, rivers and other swimming areas, where extra caution matters most in the hottest part of the summer. The agency launched its annual 101 Days of Summer Safety campaign on May 29, 2026, calling it a statewide effort focused on protecting lives during the summer travel season and urging residents to keep safety front and center as Memorial Day weekend ended and summer got under way.

The campaign materials also pointed boaters and swimmers to two basic precautions: avoid alcohol on the water and wear life jackets. ALEA has tied that advice to continued vigilance after recent drownings across Alabama, including the Millbrook death. The agency also said troopers investigated one drowning during the 2024 Labor Day holiday weekend, a reminder that the danger does not stop at one holiday or one lake.

That is the warning for Autauga County families this weekend. Water can turn fast, even for experienced swimmers, and the margin for error gets smaller when supervision slips or people assume a familiar spot is automatically safe. ALEA’s message is plain: slow down, take extra precautions and treat every pool, river and lake outing as a situation that can change in moments.