Three cars collided in the HOV lane on US-290 eastbound at Gessner Road around 6:54 AM on Thursday, August 13, creating a significant backup during the start of the workday.
Authorities responded to clear the debris and restore traffic flow. The incident tied up the eastbound direction through the Gessner interchange, forcing drivers heading toward downtown to slow to a crawl while responders worked the scene. Clear skies and 81-degree temperatures didn't prevent the crash — conditions that morning were favorable for travel.
This wreck marks the latest in a troubling pattern at this interchange. According to LTA data, US-290 at Gessner has logged 48 incidents over the past 30 days, with 16 of those classified as major. Over a 12-month period, the location has recorded 195 total incidents, including 118 major crashes and one fatality. That's 733 crashes within a quarter-mile of this intersection since January 2020, per TxDOT CRIS public crash records.
Contributing factors as recorded by investigating officers, per TxDOT CRIS, show "Failed To Control Speed" as the leading factor, cited in 253 crashes at the corridor over the past six-plus years. The data also shows a 9.6% hit-and-run rate at this location — 148 of 1,542 units involved in crashes here simply fled the scene.
While crashes at this interchange occur throughout the day at varied times, the single busiest hour is 5 to 6 PM, when 11 crashes were recorded in the LTA database over the 90-day period. Thursday mornings, however, aren't immune — this location logged 16 incidents on Mondays alone in the past 90 days, making any day a potential flashpoint.
If you're heading northeast on 290, consider FM 1960 or Cypress-Rosehill Road for the outer segments, or Hempstead Road if you're moving through the inner loop. Traffic should begin to ease once crews clear the wreckage and reopen all lanes, though expect lingering congestion through the morning peak.
Harris County saw 17,674 incidents across all 13 counties covered by the greater Houston region in the past 30 days, with 14 of those fatal. This single intersection accounts for a disproportionate share of the area's collision load.
**Update (2:55 PM CT):** The major crash at US-290 E & Gessner Rd, first reported at 6:54 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.