A motor vehicle incident shut the southbound I-45 exit ramp to the I-610 outbound entrance early Wednesday morning. The crash occurred at 3:00 AM on September 2, closing the ramp and forcing traffic to seek alternate routes through the interchange.
Moderate rain was falling at the time, with temperatures around 81°F. According to TxDOT data, wet conditions contributed to over 14,000 Texas crashes in the most recent annual reporting period, and this location sits at the intersection of two major freeways where hydroplaning and visibility issues compound during rain events.
The specific extent of damage, lane closures, and injury status were not immediately available. Responding officers worked to clear the scene and reopen the ramp to normal traffic flow.
This interchange ranks among the highest-incident locations in the region. According to LTA data, the I-45 southbound exit at the I-610 outbound entrance recorded 38 incidents in the past 30 days, with 26 classified as major. Over the past 90 days, the location logged 162 total incidents, 126 of them major. The pattern extends across longer timeframes: TxDOT CRIS public crash records document 1,597 crashes within about a quarter-mile of this corridor since January 2020, including 11 fatal crashes.
Contributing factors as recorded by the investigating officer, per TxDOT CRIS, show "Failed To Control Speed" as the leading factor, cited in 696 crashes at this corridor. Hit-and-run incidents account for 12.4% of all crashes here, representing 434 of 3,486 units involved in collisions over the same period.
While crashes here occur throughout the day, LTA data shows the single busiest hour is 6–7 PM, when the corridor typically sees 15 crashes. The location experienced its highest concentration on Mondays, with 25 incidents recorded over the most recent 90-day period.
Drivers using this interchange during the morning commute should anticipate potential delays and consider alternate routes if the ramp remains restricted. Check local traffic updates for current conditions and estimated clearance times.
Update (11:00 AM CT): The major crash at EXIT 40C S IH 45 FREEWAY at S IH 610 OUTBOUND ENTR RAMP, first reported at 3:00 AM, has cleared after more than 8 hours. All lanes have reopened and normal traffic flow has resumed in the area.
Sources: TxDOT Crash Records Information System and Local Traffic Accidents database. Counts through September 12, 2026.
EXIT 40C S IH 45 FWY @ S IH 610 OB ENTR RAMP
Harris County, Texas
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.