I-45 N Woodlands Crash Shuts Down Lanes

**Major Multi-Vehicle Crash Involving Semi Shuts Down I-45 Northbound in The Woodlands, Causes Extensive Delays**

**THE WOODLANDS, TX – April 30, 2024** – A significant multi-vehicle collision involving a semi-truck and several passenger vehicles brought northbound traffic on Interstate 45 to a complete standstill Monday afternoon in The Woodlands, causing extensive delays that stretched for miles. The incident, which occurred shortly after 2:00 PM near Exit 89 at Research Forest Drive/Tamina Road, prompted a full shutdown of the northbound main lanes and a substantial emergency response.

The pile-up involved a commercial semi-truck, a white sedan, a small white SUV, a black SUV, and a silver pickup truck. According to initial reports from the scene, the crash site was complex, requiring a coordinated effort from multiple agencies.

Emergency crews from Montgomery County Hospital District EMS, Montgomery County Fire Department, the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS), and the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office quickly converged on the scene. First responders immediately began assessing injuries among the occupants of the involved vehicles. While the severity of all injuries was not immediately disclosed, officials confirmed multiple individuals were evaluated on-site. Air medical transport was initially considered for potential critical patients but was subsequently canceled, indicating ground transport was deemed sufficient or preferable.

The crash had a severe impact on Monday’s afternoon commute. All northbound main lanes of I-45 were entirely shut down at the incident location, with traffic being diverted off onto the feeder roads. This created a massive bottleneck, with congestion extending for several miles south of the crash site, impacting commuters heading into and through The Woodlands. Drivers were strongly advised to seek alternate routes and anticipate prolonged delays throughout the afternoon and into the evening.

“Incidents involving commercial vehicles, especially on major thoroughfares like I-45, often lead to significant closures due to the scale of the vehicles and the complexity of scene management,” explained a local traffic official, who asked not to be identified as the investigation is ongoing. “Our priority is always safety, both for those involved in the crash and for our first responders working the scene.”

Clean-up efforts, along with the preliminary investigation by DPS into the cause of the collision, were expected to keep portions of the roadway closed for several hours. The stretch of I-45 through The Woodlands is a heavily traveled corridor, and accidents, particularly those involving multiple vehicles and large trucks, are a frequent cause of traffic disruption.

Motorists are encouraged to check real-time traffic updates through resources such as Houston TranStar (houstontranstar.org) or local news outlets and social media channels of Montgomery County emergency services for the latest information on roadway conditions and reopening timelines. The investigation into the exact cause of the multi-vehicle collision remains active.