A 21-year-old Houston woman and her 9-month-old baby were rushed to nearby hospitals early Friday after their sedan was rear-ended on Interstate 10 eastbound at the San Jacinto River, according to sheriff's deputies. Investigators said the pair had pulled onto the left shoulder amid heavy traffic when a 36-year-old driver drove onto the shoulder at a high rate of speed and slammed into their vehicle.
The Harris County Sheriff's Office first flagged the crash in a traffic alert on X. According to Sheriff Ed Gonzalez, the infant was in critical but stable condition and the mother was listed in fair condition. The post also noted that all eastbound lanes at the San Jacinto River were shut down while crews worked the scene and cleared the wreckage.
Traffic maps and live cameras for IH-10 East at the San Jacinto River showed the eastbound mainlanes completely blocked, creating major backups for anyone trying to get out of town. Per Houston TranStar, drivers in the area should brace for extended delays until the crash is cleared and investigators finish their on-site work.
Why This Stretch Snarls Traffic
The bridge and the stretch of I-10 over the San Jacinto River have been repeat trouble spots, with multiple closures and serious collisions in recent years turning it into a regular choke point for eastbound traffic. Local coverage of earlier shutdowns is available from Click2Houston. The Texas Department of Transportation lists a reconstruction project for the I-10 San Jacinto River bridge designed to improve safety and capacity; see TxDOT for project details.
Investigation and Next Steps
The sheriff's office provided the initial public update on the crash and said more information will come as investigators continue their work. So far, the X post by Sheriff Ed Gonzalez remains the primary source of details; deputies have not released the names of those involved or announced any charges.
Drivers headed east across the San Jacinto River are urged to check Houston TranStar for live updates and consider alternate routes while crews finish clearing the scene. This story will be updated as the sheriff's office releases further information.
