A significant traffic crash brought congestion to the Eastex Freeway at FM-1960 on Sunday morning, February 22, 2026, at 9:54 AM. The collision occurred near a McDonald's location at the intersection, creating a major backup during what should have been a lighter travel period.
The incident tied up traffic across multiple lanes during peak morning hours. Drivers heading toward downtown Houston on the Eastex faced extended delays, with backups likely extending well past the initial crash site. Those looking to avoid the area should consider taking I-45 north as an alternate route toward Spring or Montgomery County, or routing through local roads like Kuykendahl Road and Spring Cypress Road to bypass the congestion entirely. Eastbound FM-1960 drivers may also find relief by diverting to the surface streets of The Woodlands area until the incident cleared.
The Eastex Freeway at FM-1960 is a critical intersection for Northeast Houston commuters, serving as a major gateway between The Woodlands communities and the I-610 loop. This stretch experiences consistent heavy traffic, particularly on weekends when shoppers and families head to the retail centers near the interchange. The McDonald's location sits prominently at this junction, making it a high-visibility area prone to access-related incidents.
The crash significantly impacted traffic flow in the northbound direction on the Eastex, with major delays expected to ripple into surrounding thoroughfares including I-45 and connecting surface streets. Sunday morning commutes typically run lighter than weekday traffic, but this major incident created a notable disruption for drivers heading to work, church, or weekend activities. Cleanup operations appeared to be underway, though the extent of the incident's duration remained unclear.
Before this crash, the location had a quiet 90-day stretch.
After this incident, 2 more crashes have been logged at the location. 2 of those crashes reached major severity.
Updated through May 19, 2026.
This report was produced by LTA's editor-designed production system under the executive editorial direction of Dennis R. Mundy, Executive Editor. The system combines our proprietary data pipeline with AI-assisted drafting to deliver verified incident coverage to LTA's editorial standards.