Southwest Freeway NB at Beltway back open after SUV fell off HOV ramp to freeway below

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) -- An SUV crashed through the concrete barrier of the IH-69 Southwest Freeway HOV flyover ramp, landing in the northbound lanes below, just before Beltway-8 West Tuesday morning.

The Metro Police Department said the crash happened during rush hour, at about 6 a.m.

The driver was heading northbound in the HOV lane when he or she hit the walls of the T-ramp at the West Bellfort HOV entrance ramp.

The SUV barreled through the concrete barrier and launched into the freeway's main lanes, where it hit two other vehicles.

Metro police said the people inside the two cars that were struck are expected to be okay. The two people inside the SUV were hospitalized in critical condition Tuesday.

ABC13 spoke with Sina Daad, one of several drivers who parked and ran along the highway to help the injured.

"I just wanted to make sure they were alive," Daad, who equated the crash to a scene from an action movie, said.

SkyEye was over the scene where helicopter reporter Don Armstrong noted there was a large hole in the retaining wall along the ramp.

Chunks of debris from the destroyed wall are all over the freeway. The crash is under investigation.

For more updates on this story, follow Shannon Ryan on Facebook, X and Instagram.

On mobile, use two fingers to zoom in on specific roads.