Commuters on I-45 North faced significant delays this morning after two separate hazardous material spills caused by vehicle collisions. The first incident occurred at I-45 North before Patton Street, where a heavy truck was involved in a two-vehicle crash at around 7:11 a.m., according to CW39. This resulted in the closure of the right shoulder, right lane, and two center lanes while the cleanup crew addressed the spill. Houston TranStar reports indicated that the initial accident was cleared by 9:45 a.m.
Shortly after, another disruption ensued at approximately 8:23 a.m. near Crosstimbers Street, where an SUV collided with an 18-wheeler, leading to a diesel fuel leak from the truck's fuel tank. "IH-45 North Fwy N/B at Crosstimbers, major crash. An SUV vs 18 wheeler. SUV hit fuel tank on 18 wheeler causing the fuel tank to leak diesel fuel. The freeway is shut down for this haz mat spill. Avoid the area," Lieutenant Terry Garza of HCSO communicated in a statement obtained by CW39. Initially, all northbound lanes were closed, but two lanes were reopened around 9:18 a.m.
Further investigation by authorities revealed an unexpected twist to the Crosstimbers Street incident. Lt. Garza later stated that the diesel spill was actually caused when multiple vehicles hit a metal object on the freeway that had fallen off a separate load. "It was actually multiple vehicles that hit some type of metal object on the freeway that had fallen off a load. The metal object reportedly punctured the fuel tank, causing the spill, and damaged several vehicles," Lt. Garza clarified in a statement referenced by ABC13.
