A Southwest Freeway HOV crash caused major delays Wednesday evening after a vehicle fell from an elevated HOV lane onto the northbound lanes near Beltway 8 in Houston. Authorities said three women inside the vehicle went to a hospital and are expected to survive.
Southwest Freeway HOV Crash Shuts Down Northbound Lanes
The crash happened Wednesday, July 22, near IH-69 Southwest Freeway and Beltway 8 West. The vehicle landed on the main lanes below, so officials closed the northbound freeway.
Lt. Terry Garza with the Harris County Sheriff’s Office said the crash caused major backups in the area. Meanwhile, first responders worked along the northbound main lanes between West Bellfort and Beltway 8.
By Thursday morning, July 23, crews had cleared the scene and reopened the northbound lanes, according to local traffic reports. As a result, traffic returned to normal after several hours of delays on Houston’s southwest side.
What Authorities Say Happened
Houston METRO Police said preliminary information showed the driver lost control of the vehicle. Then, the car struck the HOV barrier, became airborne, and landed on the freeway below.
KPRC reported that police said the car had traveled southbound in the HOV lane. After that, authorities said the vehicle turned toward a park-and-ride area before going through the barrier.
FOX 26 reported that officials believed the vehicle may have traveled at a high rate of speed. However, investigators had not released a final cause as of Thursday morning.
Three Women Taken to Hospital
Authorities said three women were inside the car when it fell from the HOV lane. Emergency crews took them to local hospitals after the crash.
Houston police said the women should survive. Also, KPRC reported that authorities described their injuries as non-life-threatening and said the women were conscious and talking after the crash.
Drivers at the scene tried to help before emergency crews completed the rescue. In fact, KPRC reported that some used sledgehammers while trying to free the women from the vehicle.
Investigation Continues
Houston police and METRO Police continue to investigate the crash. So far, officials have not released the names of the women involved.
Authorities also have not announced whether they will file any charges or citations. Next, investigators may review the crash scene and available camera footage before releasing more details.
The incident also renewed concerns about serious crashes near elevated freeway ramps and HOV lanes. Therefore, drivers should expect emergency closures and sudden delays after major wrecks on busy corridors like IH-69.
For Houston-area commuters, the crash is a reminder to slow down near ramps, barriers, and merge points. Before heading out, drivers traveling through the Southwest Freeway and Beltway 8 area should check real-time traffic updates.