I-45 southbound shut at Texas Spur 5 early Sunday after major wreck

A major wreck on I-45 southbound at the Texas Spur 5 entrance ramp brought traffic to a standstill early Sunday. The crash happened at 4:27 AM, and responding officers cleared the incident within the hour, but the early-morning backup extended for several blocks along the southbound approach.

This stretch of I-45 near Cullen has become a steady source of collisions. According to LTA data, the corridor logged 19 incidents in the past 30 days—10 of them major. Over 90 days, that number climbs to 39 total incidents, with 17 classified as major. Looking back further, TxDOT CRIS public crash records show 593 crashes within about a quarter-mile of this interchange since January 2020, including 3 fatalities.

Contributing factors as recorded by the investigating officer, per TxDOT CRIS, show "Failed To Control Speed" as the leading factor, cited in 280 crashes across the corridor over the past six-plus years. This single contributing factor dwarfs all others at this location, suggesting that vehicle speed remains the most frequently documented issue when crashes occur here.

The timing of this wreck—before dawn on a Sunday—falls outside the weekday commute window. LTA data shows that most crashes at this interchange happen outside rush hour; the single busiest hour on record is 2 to 3 PM, when six crashes have been logged. Tuesdays historically see the most incidents at this location, with seven crashes over the past 90 days.

Conditions at the time were clear, with scattered clouds and a temperature near 80 degrees. Weather was not a factor in this particular incident.

The southbound lanes reopened as crews cleared the vehicles and debris. If you're traveling I-45 near Cullen during the morning commute, expect residual congestion as traffic recovers. Motorists heading to the airport or downtown should allow extra time and consider alternate routes if southbound I-45 appears backed up on your traffic app.

**Update (12:30 PM CT):** The major crash at SIH45IB-CULLEN S IH 45 FWY @ TEXAS SPUR 5 ENTR RAMP, first reported at 4:27 AM, has cleared after more than 8 hours. All lanes have reopened and normal traffic flow has resumed in the area.