I-45 Gulf northbound slowed after morning crash near Wayside

A crash on IH-45 Gulf northbound at Wayside and US-90 Alternate around 7:54 AM Thursday sent drivers hunting for alternate routes during the morning commute.

The wreck is the latest incident at one of the region's most active crash corridors. According to LTA data, the stretch has logged 34 crashes in the past 30 days—16 of them major. Over the past year, the location has seen 423 total incidents, with 213 classified as major and 3 fatal.

Thursday's crash comes as this corridor continues to see heavy incident activity across all hours. While the single busiest hour here is typically 3–4 PM, crashes at this location occur throughout the day rather than concentrating in any one window.

Responding officers worked the scene as traffic built behind the wreck. If you're headed north on 45 through this area, the Hardy Toll Road, SH-249 northwest, or local routes via Airline Drive offer ways around the backup.

Looking at the broader picture, Texas crash records tell a consistent story at this location. According to TxDOT CRIS data covering crashes since January 2020, contributing factors as recorded by investigating officers show "Failed To Control Speed" as the leading factor, cited in 397 crashes. The same public records show a hit-and-run rate of 12.2% at the corridor—370 of 3,033 vehicles involved in crashes here—which is notably higher than typical and suggests a pattern worth watching for anyone traveling this stretch.

The corridor's 12-month toll—423 incidents, 213 major—reflects why this section of IH-45 commands attention from commuters and safety observers alike. The numbers speak for themselves.