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A four-vehicle crash involving two 18-wheelers shut down northbound I-45 at Woodridge Drive early Wednesday morning, backing up traffic across multiple lanes during the pre-dawn hours.
The wreck happened at 4:56 AM on May 27, 2026. Light rain was falling at the time, and emergency crews responded to find debris scattered across the northbound roadway. Two tractor-trailers were involved in the collision, along with two other vehicles. The backup was significant enough that additional units were called to manage the scene and clear the wreckage.
This crash is the latest in a sustained pattern of collisions at this I-45 corridor. According to LocalTrafficAccidents.com data, the intersection and surrounding stretch have recorded 56 incidents in the past 30 days—40 of them classified as major. Over the past 90 days, the location has logged 178 total incidents, including 100 major crashes and 6 fatalities. The 12-month total stands at 213 incidents, 112 major, and 6 fatalities.
While this location experiences its heaviest crash activity on Thursday afternoons and during the 5 PM-6 PM evening rush, the 90-day data shows that 70 percent of crashes here occur during off-peak hours—exactly when this morning's wreck took place. The wet pavement likely played a role in the collision; TxDOT reports that wet conditions contributed to over 14,000 Texas crashes in the most recent annual reporting period.
Harris County saw 19,616 traffic incidents in the 30 days leading up to this crash, including 12 fatalities across the region.
By early morning, crews worked to clear the wreckage and reopen lanes. Northbound motorists should expect residual delays as the roadway is cleared and the debris-removal operation concludes. If you're heading north on I-45 through this corridor Wednesday morning, allow extra time and watch for ongoing emergency response activity.
**Update (1:00 PM CT):** The major crash at I-45 N & Woodridge Dr, first reported at 4:56 AM, has cleared after more than 8 hours. All lanes have reopened and normal traffic flow has resumed in the area.
This report was produced by LTA's editor-designed production system under the executive editorial direction of Dennis R. Mundy, Executive Editor. The system combines our proprietary data pipeline with AI-assisted drafting to deliver verified incident coverage to LTA's editorial standards.