East Sam Houston Tollway southbound crash at SH 3

A major crash tied up the East Sam Houston Tollway southbound at SH 3/Old Galveston Road around 10:57 AM Thursday, June 18. Crews responded to the scene and worked to clear the roadway, with significant backups building during the mid-morning hours.

This stretch of the tollway is a consistent trouble spot. According to LTA data, 32 crashes occurred here over the past 30 days—21 of them major incidents like today's. Over the past 12 months, the corridor has logged 119 total crashes, with 62 classified as major. For context, state crash records from the Texas Department of Transportation show 774 crashes within about a quarter-mile of this location since January 2020, with 4 of those fatal.

Today's timing fell outside the corridor's typical peak-crash window. Most incidents here occur outside weekday commute hours, with the single busiest hour between 2 and 3 PM—where 9 crashes have been recorded. The busiest day overall is Friday, with 13 incidents logged over the past 90 days.

Weather at the time was scattered clouds and 91 degrees—clear conditions that didn't complicate the response. When wet pavement is present, the data underscores the risk: according to TxDOT, wet conditions contributed to over 14,000 Texas crashes in the most recent annual reporting period.

State crash records identify "Failed To Control Speed" as the most commonly recorded contributing factor at this corridor, cited in 251 crashes since January 2020. Hit-and-run incidents account for 5.2% of all units involved in crashes here over that span.

If you're headed southbound on the East Sam Houston Tollway, expect delays as crews work to clear the scene. Check real-time conditions before you head out, and consider alternate routing if available.