Fatal I-45 Crash Shuts Down Lanes, Kills Motorcyclist

**Motorcyclist Dies in Tragic I-45 North Collision Near FM 1488, Shuts Down Freeway for Hours**

**CONROE, TX –** A Spring man was killed Friday afternoon in a fatal collision involving his motorcycle and a commercial truck on northbound Interstate 45, just south of the FM 1488 exit in northern Montgomery County. The tragic incident, which occurred around 2:25 PM, led to a multi-hour closure of the mainlanes and significant traffic backups.

Authorities identified the deceased as 55-year-old Mark Johnson of Spring, who was riding his 2013 Harley Davidson motorcycle when he collided with a 2016 Kenworth commercial tractor-trailer. Johnson was pronounced dead at the scene by emergency medical personnel. The driver of the commercial truck did not sustain any injuries.

The Department of Public Safety (DPS) is leading the ongoing investigation into the precise circumstances surrounding the crash. Investigators are working to determine all contributing factors that led to the deadly collision.

The severity of the incident prompted a large-scale emergency response, drawing personnel from multiple agencies. Responding units included the Texas Department of Public Safety, Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office, Montgomery County Precinct 5 Constables, Montgomery County Hospital District EMS, and the Magnolia Fire Department. Their presence was crucial for managing the scene, providing medical aid, and directing traffic.

As a result of the crash investigation and necessary cleanup operations, all northbound mainlanes of I-45 were completely shut down for several hours. This closure caused massive traffic delays stretching for miles, with commuters experiencing significant disruptions throughout the afternoon and into the early evening. Traffic was eventually reopened late Friday evening after the scene was cleared.

The incident remains under active investigation by DPS. Authorities have not yet released further details regarding the preliminary findings or potential causes of the crash.