Early-hour commuters in Houston faced major setbacks this morning due to hazardous material spills following two separate truck accidents. The first incident, a collision involving an 18-wheeler on I-45 northbound before Crosstimbers Street, was first reported at about 3:38 a.m., and it took emergency crews until 7:22 a.m. to clear the scene, as confirmed by Houston TranStar. According to KHOU 11, the hazmat spill extended the length of a football field, leaving only the two left lanes open and causing a ripple effect of congestion spreading to nearby Loop 610 North.
The second crash occurred shortly after 4:30 a.m. on Highway 99 westbound at Riley Fuzzel Road, where an overturned cement truck caused another hazmat spill, forcing a complete shutdown of the westbound lanes. CW39 reported that the spill affected multiple lanes, including both shoulders, urging motorists to avoid the area and to expect significant delays. Drivers were advised to seek alternative routes, such as FM 1314 or Spring Stuebner Road, to navigate around the closures.
As the morning progressed, traffic experts recommended detours to mitigate the disruption. For those affected by the I-45 spill, Patton Street or Cavalcade Street were suggested as exits to reroute via North Main or Fulton Street. Additional trouble was noted by KHOU 11's Jennifer Reyna, reporting an 18-wheeler crash inbound at Crosstimbers blocking freeway access and another crash at Will Clayton Parkway impacting the left shoulder and drawing a substantial emergency response.
By mid-morning, clean-up crews were still diligently working to ensure that the roadways were safe for travel. Commuters had been seen trying to bypass the blockage on Highway 99 by driving over the grass, an action strongly discouraged by officials for safety reasons.
