Exit 44A on southbound 45 crash; 8 incidents in 30 days

A major crash brought southbound I-45 traffic to a standstill near the Telephone entrance ramp early Tuesday morning. The wreck happened at 6:28 AM at Exit 44A, forcing crews to deal with significant backups during the start of the morning commute.

The crash occurred in a corridor that's seen considerable activity recently. According to LocalTrafficAccidents.com data, eight major crashes have hit this stretch of I-45 in the past 30 days alone. Over the past three months, the location's recorded 20 total incidents, 17 of them major. That pattern underscores why this exit draws consistent attention from traffic watchers.

Tuesdays appear to be a particular flashpoint here—the past 90 days show six incidents occurred on Tuesdays, more than any other day of the week. The most common incident type at this location remains major crashes, a pattern that's held steady over the quarter.

Wider context from TxDOT CRIS public crash records shows this corridor has experienced 520 crashes since January 2020, with six fatalities over that span. Contributing factors as recorded by the investigating officer, per TxDOT CRIS, show "Failed To Control Speed" as the leading factor, cited in 267 crashes. The hit-and-run rate at this location sits at 11.8%, meaning roughly one in eight crashes involved a driver who didn't remain at the scene.

Conditions at the time of the crash were clear—partly cloudy skies and 81 degrees. Responding officers worked to clear the scene and restore traffic flow. If you're heading southbound on 45 through this area, expect residual delays and exercise caution as crews complete their work. Check current traffic conditions before you head out, as incident-related slowdowns may persist through the early morning hours.

**Update (2:30 PM CT):** The major crash at EXIT 44A 4801 S IH 45 FWY @ TELEPHONE ENTR RAMP, first reported at 6:28 AM, has cleared after more than 8 hours. All lanes have reopened and normal traffic flow has resumed in the area.