Early Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026, southbound I-35 near San Pedro Avenue and Elmira Street turned into a scramble of flashing lights and sirens after an SUV rolled over just north of downtown San Antonio. Video from the scene showed firefighters swarming the overturned vehicle as multiple emergency units worked the crash, with at least one person appearing to be trapped inside. Traffic through the area slowed to a crawl as crews worked to free occupants and clear the lower-level stretch of the interstate, as reported by KENS 5.
According to KENS 5, the crash was first reported around 1:18 a.m., drawing what appeared to be dozens of emergency units to the lower-level southbound lanes near the San Pedro and Elmira exit. The station reported that at least one person seemed to be trapped in the overturned vehicle and noted that authorities had not yet released details about what caused the rollover. KENS 5's initial coverage includes video from the scene.
Construction and traffic context
The downtown stretch of I-35 is currently under repair and has been subject to overnight lane reductions that affect traffic flow, according to MySA. Those narrowed lanes and shifting detours can complicate emergency response and make clearing wrecks slower and more difficult, which often means backups linger longer than drivers would like. Motorists were urged to steer clear of the area while crews handled the rollover and cleared the interstate.
Investigation and what to expect
SAPD and the San Antonio Fire Department had not released a detailed account of the crash as of Saturday morning. Investigators are expected to review physical evidence and any available witness video as they work to piece together how the rollover unfolded. The Elmira and San Pedro area has seen repeated closures and reconstruction in recent years, a pattern local reporting has linked to shifting traffic patterns on the downtown I-35 corridor, per the Express-News. Anyone with information or footage that could assist investigators is asked to contact police.
