Armed Woman Sparks Standoff, Shuts I-45 Houston Traffic

A woman armed with a handgun caused a major traffic disruption on Interstate 45 near Cypresswood Drive in Houston, Texas, after she crashed her vehicle into the path of an 18-wheeler and then sat down in a lawn chair in the middle of the highway. The standoff, which began around 1:50 p.m. on June 26, 2025, involved multiple law enforcement agencies including a crisis intervention team and a trained mental health officer, who have been negotiating with the woman, who reportedly expressed suicidal thoughts and claimed her children were being held hostage. Despite repeated commands, she refused to drop her weapon or move from the road, prompting authorities to shut down both directions of the freeway, causing significant traffic gridlock and diversions. A family member has arrived on the scene to assist with negotiations as police continue efforts to peacefully resolve the situation. Authorities have urged the public to avoid the area due to the ongoing incident. This remains a developing story with emergency crews maintaining a heavy presence at the site.