Commuters in Harris County faced major delays earlier today after an 18-wheeler burst into flames on West Grand Parkway South. The accident occurred in the northbound lanes of the highway near Katy, leading to a full closure as emergency services scrambled to the scene.
According to the Harris County Sheriff's Office, the incident unfolded around 7:44 a.m., Hazmat officials were called to manage the situation, Click2Houston reported. Sheriff Ed Gonzalez warned of extended cleanup times, "expected to take around four hours," as he said in a social media post, captured by ABC13.
Authorities have not disclosed the cause of the crash, nor has information regarding injuries been released. The aftermath of the accident left a charred wreckage on the roadway, which was visible in aerial footage provided by ABC13.
Drivers were being diverted from SH-99 at Kingsland Boulevard, and officials encouraged motorists to seek alternate routes to avoid the area. Real-time traffic data and alerts were made available through the ABC13 app, to assist those navigating the congestion around Houston's roads. The shutdown affected many during the morning commute, but by midday, efforts to reopen the lanes were underway.
