A frightening crash brought traffic to a standstill in southwest Houston after a car apparently flew off an elevated overpass and crashed down onto the freeway below. The scene unfolded as a breaking emergency, drawing first responders and shutting down a stretch of one of the city's busiest highways in the overnight hours.
Officials say the crash closed the northbound lanes of the Southwest Freeway at Beltway 8 West. According to authorities, the vehicle came off an HOV lane on the overpass above and landed on the main lanes below, a dramatic and unusual sequence that left drivers and witnesses stunned at how the car ended up on the roadway.
Despite the severity of the fall, there was a measure of relief in who was inside. Police say at least three women were in the vehicle at the time of the crash. Authorities say all three are expected to be okay, an outcome that seemed remarkable given the height of the drop from the overpass onto the freeway lanes below.
The aftermath was captured from multiple angles. Traffic cameras from the region's monitoring system showed the growing backup, while video sent in by a viewer captured the scene near the crash, showing the drop from the overpass and the vehicle down on the roadway where it came to rest after the fall.
First responders remained on the scene working to treat those involved and clear the wreck. With the car down on the main lanes and crews needing room to operate, the northbound side of the freeway was blocked, sending traffic into a heavy backup as drivers were funneled away from the closed lanes at the interchange.
Officials warned that the disruption would not be short-lived, cautioning that the northbound lanes could remain closed for hours as the investigation and cleanup continued. Drivers heading in that direction were urged to find an alternate route, with authorities stressing that anyone caught in the backup could be stuck for a long time.