Major crash on Old Spanish Trail Thursday morning

A major crash on Old Spanish Trail brought rush-hour traffic to a crawl around 7:24 AM Thursday, September 10, disrupting morning commutes across Harris County.

Responding officers worked the scene as drivers navigated the disruption. The incident hit at a time when Old Spanish Trail sees varied crash activity throughout the day, though the corridor experiences its highest concentration of crashes between 4 and 5 PM.

Old Spanish Trail has become one of Harris County's most active crash corridors. According to LTA data, the road recorded 25 incidents in the past 30 days, with eight classified as major. Over the past 90 days, that number climbs to 105 total incidents, 41 of them major. The 12-month picture is more striking: 310 total incidents, 147 major, and 2 fatal crashes.

Thursday's incident aligns with a broader pattern at this location. LTA data shows Thursdays are the single busiest day of the week on Old Spanish Trail, with 15 crashes recorded over the past 90 days.

State crash records provide deeper context. Per TxDOT CRIS public crash records, Old Spanish Trail has logged 532 crashes since January 2020 within approximately a quarter-mile of this corridor. Contributing factors as recorded by investigating officers show "Failed To Control Speed" as the leading factor, cited in 94 crashes. Hit-and-runs account for 7.8% of incidents at the location.

The morning was clear—scattered clouds and 81 degrees—so weather was not a factor in this incident.

Authorities cleared the scene as traffic gradually normalized. Drivers heading through Old Spanish Trail should expect residual delays and remain alert, given the high frequency of crashes along this stretch. If you're in the area, use caution and allow extra time for your commute.

Update (3:25 PM CT): The major crash at OLD SPANISH TRAIL, first reported at 7:24 AM, has cleared after more than 8 hours. All lanes have reopened and normal traffic flow has resumed in the area.