IH-10 Katy eastbound shut at Washington Ave by early crash

A major crash on IH-10 Katy eastbound at Washington Ave has shut multiple lanes in the early Friday morning hours. The collision happened at 1:36 AM on October 2, and crews are working to clear the roadway.

The incident struck during very heavy rain — conditions that matter. TxDOT reports wet conditions contributed to over 14,000 Texas crashes in the most recent annual reporting period, and visibility and traction were clearly issues here.

This stretch of IH-10 eastbound is no stranger to collisions. According to LTA data, the corridor has seen 56 incidents in the past 30 days, with 39 of those classified as major. Over the past 12 months, the location has recorded 454 total incidents, 274 of them major. Fridays are the single busiest day at this location over the past quarter — 25 incidents logged — though crashes here happen at varied times rather than clustering in one peak window.

For immediate commuting decisions: if you're heading into the city on I-10 Katy, expect delays or consider taking I-610 loop, Westpark Tollway from the west, or Washington Ave/Memorial Dr for inner-loop segments. Crews should have the road reopened within the next couple of hours, but conditions remain wet and dangerous.

State crash records from the Texas Department of Transportation, covering this corridor since January 2020, show "Failed To Control Speed" as the leading contributing factor cited by investigating officers, documented in 464 crashes. Over the same period, 1,175 crashes have been recorded within about a quarter-mile of this intersection, with 3 fatal.

Stay alert out there. The rain's still heavy, the pavement is slick, and this area sees consistent collision activity. Give yourself extra time and extra space if you're on this route.