A major accident created chaos on the Eastex Freeway early this morning when an 18-wheel truck spun out of control, colliding with the highway's support pillars and crashing onto the HOV lanes, authorities said. According to a post from Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez's official X page, the truck is reported to have hydroplaned just south of the 11500 block of Eastex Freeway, causing a disruption that ground traffic to a halt.
Major crash southbound @ 11500 Eastex Fwy. It appears an 18-wheeler hydroplaned, driving into the pillars and onto the @METROHouston HOV lanes, blocking traffic. No reported injuries. A heavy-duty wrecker is en route and so is a Hazmat crew to assist with diesel spill.
— Ed Gonzalez (@SheriffEd_HCSO) May 2, 2024
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The high-speed wreck occurred under what one can imagine were the slick, treacherous conditions of the freeway, there were no injuries reported at the scene despite the potential gravity the incident carried with it, a wrecker was dispatched to manage the vehicular carnage, and a Hazmat team was called to the scene to contain a significant diesel spill resulting from the crash. Commuters found themselves stuck in a gridlock as crews worked to clear the lanes and assure the safety of the roadway structures.
Details of the crash were shared by the Harris County Sheriff's X account, which also included information regarding emergency responses to the accident. The post specified, "Major crash southbound @ 11500 Eastex Fwy. It appears an 18-wheeler hydroplaned, driving into the pillars and onto the @METROHouston HOV lanes, blocking traffic."
