I-45 South wreck at Exit 40B; 54 incidents in 30 days

A major crash at I-45 South and Exit 40B early Sunday morning added to one of the busiest stretches of freeway in the region. The wreck happened at 2:16 AM on July 12, and responding officers worked to clear the scene and restore traffic flow.

This intersection sits on a corridor that's been hammered with crashes. According to LocalTrafficAccidents.com data, I-45 South at Exit 40B has logged 54 incidents in the past 30 days—23 of them major. Over the past year, the location has seen 291 total incidents, including 140 major crashes and 6 fatalities. The numbers paint a picture of a location where something's going wrong with regularity.

Crashes at this spot occur throughout the day and night, though the single busiest hour is 4 to 5 PM, when the corridor has recorded 12 crashes. Even at 2 in the morning, when traffic is lightest, drivers still find themselves in trouble here.

Historically, this corridor shows a disturbing trend. Per TxDOT CRIS public crash records, within about a quarter-mile of this location since January 2020, there have been 1,363 crashes, including 4 fatalities. The most common contributing factor recorded by investigating officers is "Failed To Control Speed," cited in 440 crashes at the location. The hit-and-run rate here stands at 13.0%—meaning roughly one in every eight crashes involves a driver who left the scene.

Weather conditions at the time were overcast with temperatures around 80°F—not adverse conditions that would typically elevate crash risk. The incident occurred on a Sunday, when traffic volumes are generally lower than weekday rush hours.

The crash added another entry to a location where major incidents are routine. Sunday's wreck is part of a pattern: this exit ramp has become one of the region's most crash-prone freeway segments, particularly during afternoon and evening hours when commuter volume peaks.