Exit 774 on I-10 East shutdown after major afternoon crash

A major crash on Interstate 10 eastbound at the Gellhorn exit ramp brought traffic to a standstill Wednesday afternoon. The incident occurred at 12:35 PM on September 2, forcing responding officers to shut down the exit and work to clear the scene.

The timing couldn't have been worse for eastbound commuters. That particular stretch of I-10 near exit 774 has seen a troubling spike in incidents. According to LocalTrafficAccidents.com data, the corridor logged 8 incidents over the past 30 days—6 of them major. Looking back further, the exit ramp and immediate surroundings have recorded 20 total incidents in the past 90 days, with 12 classified as major. Over the past year, the location has accumulated 41 total incidents, 22 of them major.

State crash records paint a broader picture of this stretch of highway. Per TxDOT CRIS public crash records, the corridor near exit 774 has seen 235 crashes since January 2020, with contributing factors as recorded by investigating officers showing "Failed To Control Speed" as the leading factor, cited in 65 crashes. The hit-and-run rate at this location stands at 13.2%, suggesting some drivers leave the scene rather than remain to exchange information.

Wednesday's conditions were hot and overcast, with temperatures hovering near 94 degrees—typical for early September in the Houston area. Heat and afternoon traffic combining on a freeway section already prone to incidents created a recipe for the backup that followed.

The crash involved multiple vehicles, though the exact count and injury status were still being determined as crews worked to clear the roadway. Emergency responders concentrated on removing disabled vehicles and debris from the travel lanes to restore traffic flow.

If you're heading eastbound on I-10 through this area, you're looking at delays until the incident clears. Avoid the Gellhorn exit if possible and consider using alternate routes around the east side of the metro area. Check real-time traffic conditions before you head out; backups on I-10 in this stretch can build quickly and hold for hours once an incident ties up the corridor.

This was the latest in a string of incidents at this exit. Drivers familiar with this stretch know exit 774 can get unpredictable in the afternoon, especially when traffic volume picks up heading into the evening commute. The 8 incidents in just the past month underscore why this corridor demands your full attention behind the wheel.

Update (8:35 PM CT): The major crash at EXIT 774 E IH 10 FREEWAY at GELLHORN EXIT RAMP, first reported at 12:35 PM, has cleared after more than 8 hours. All lanes have reopened and normal traffic flow has resumed in the area.