Crash Blocks I-610 North Loop Westbound Near McCarty Street

A major crash shut down westbound lanes on I-610 North Loop at McCarty Street and US-90 Alternate around 3:59 AM Wednesday, May 20, creating a significant backup in the pre-dawn hours when most drivers expect a clear run across the loop.

The crash came as mist blanketed the area with visibility down to 3.0 miles — conditions TxDOT reports contributed to over 14,000 Texas crashes in the most recent annual reporting period. Early responders cleared the incident, but the timing underscores a troubling pattern at this exact location.

This spot on the North Loop Westbound has become a chronic trouble zone. According to LTA data, the corridor logged 46 incidents in the past 30 days — 35 of them major. Over the past year, it's tallied 115 total incidents, 77 of them classified as major. While 69% of crashes at this location occur during off-peak hours like this morning's incident, the sheer volume suggests this isn't a rush-hour anomaly.

Harris County recorded 19,333 total incidents over the same 30-day window, including 20 fatalities countywide. The I-610 North Loop Westbound at McCarty ranks among the county's most active crash corridors — a distinction driven not by congestion but by the raw frequency of collisions, regardless of time of day.

If you're heading west on the loop this morning, surface streets offer relief. Westheimer, Richmond, or Bellaire on the west side of the loop can absorb traffic flow, though expect heavier-than-normal conditions as drivers reroute. Northbound travelers should consider Irvington or Fulton as alternatives until the all-clear.

The incident was cleared by early morning. Traffic flow should normalize shortly, though the loop remains under observation. Given the mist and reduced visibility, exercise caution if you're still out there — conditions that favor crashes remain in effect.