IH-10 Katy eastbound shut at Washington after major Monday crash

A major crash brought IH-10 Katy eastbound to a standstill early Monday morning, October 12, 2026. The collision happened at 6:25 AM near Washington Ave and Westcott St, closing the roadway and backing up traffic during the start of the week's commute.

Authorities responded to find significant damage. Multiple lanes were blocked as crews worked to clear the scene. The crash happened on an overcast morning with temperatures around 78 degrees.

This stretch of IH-10 has become a high-frequency incident corridor. According to LTA data, there were 54 total incidents here in the past 30 days alone, with 36 classified as major crashes. Over the past 90 days, the numbers climbed to 168 incidents, 116 of them major. Looking at the full 12-month window, the corridor logged 466 total incidents with 281 major crashes — a pattern that underscores the persistent challenge commuters face on this segment.

The data also shows this corridor doesn't concentrate crashes into a single peak window. While the single busiest hour is 5–6 PM, recording 13 crashes during that window, crashes occur at varied times throughout the day, meaning Monday's early-morning incident fits an unpredictable pattern.

State crash records paint a clearer picture of what happens here. According to TxDOT CRIS public crash records, this location has logged 1,180 crashes since January 2020 — three of them fatal. Contributing factors as recorded by the investigating officer, per TxDOT CRIS, show "Failed To Control Speed" as the leading factor, cited in 465 crashes at this location. The corridor also experiences a hit-and-run rate of 11.3%, significantly higher than many other intersections in the region.

If you're heading eastbound on IH-10 this morning, consider alternatives. The I-610 loop, Westpark Tollway to the west, or Washington Ave and Memorial Dr for inner-loop segments can help you bypass the backup. Expect delays to persist as crews clear the roadway and investigate.

Harris County saw 11,568 total incidents in the past 30 days, with two fatal crashes. This morning's major incident on IH-10 adds to an already active corridor and a busy county overall.

Update (8:25 AM CT): As of 8:25 AM CT, the scene remains active and lanes may still be affected. Motorists are advised to seek alternate routes.

Update (9:10 AM CT): The major crash at IH-10 Katy Eastbound at Washington Avenue at Westcott Street, first reported at 6:25 AM, has cleared after approximately 2 hours and 45 minutes. All lanes have reopened and normal traffic flow has resumed in the area.