Chaos ensued in Brookshire, Texas, earlier today when an 18-wheeler flipped on its side, triggering a hazmat emergency and the complete shutdown of the Katy Freeway. The mishap happened around 8:30 a.m. near FM 359 in Waller County, sending emergency crews scrambling to contain the scene and traffic into a standstill, with heavy machinery brought in to upright the rig, its efforts futile, only further marring the truck, as reported by KHOU 11.

Authorities are instructing travelers to find different paths with suggestions from KHOU 11's traffic expert Jennifer Reyna saying drivers can use 11th Street or Highway 90 as detours, while the icy conditions caused by the recent Arctic conditions, have only complicated the morning commute with warnings from the National Weather Service to approach bridges and overpasses with extra care. Meanwhile, local news FOX 26 Houston indicated at least one other vehicle was tangled in the debacle, with all main lanes eastbound and westbound on FM-359 shut down as a result.

Repercussions from the spill are undoubtedly set to ripple throughout the vicinity for the balance of the day as emergency responders labor to manage the situation, the origins of which remain undisclosed by officials — investigation into the cause of the accident is ongoing, with promises of updates as further details emerge. Commuters are meanwhile left to navigate the snarled web of traffic the incident has woven, with authorities urging patience and attentiveness to road conditions.