A 64-year-old woman caused a tense standoff on Interstate 45 near Houston Thursday after crashing her car, pulling out a gun, and sitting in a lawn chair in the highway, prompting hours of closures before negotiators resolved the situation peacefully.
A major Texas highway experienced closures for several hours on Thursday following an incident where a 64-year-old woman, after being involved in a crash, brandished a firearm, set up a lawn chair, and positioned herself in the center of Interstate 45 in the Spring area. This led to an extended standoff that concluded without further escalation, according to officials.
A woman reportedly collided her vehicle with the rear of an 18-wheeler while traveling in the southbound lanes of I-45. According to Maj. Cedrick Collier of the Harris County Sheriff’s Office, there were no injuries reported in the crash. Following the incident, the woman emerged from her vehicle, retrieved a lawn chair, positioned herself in the middle of the road, and held a revolver to her head, disregarding multiple orders from law enforcement to lower the weapon.
Members of the Harris County Sheriff’s Office, along with crisis negotiators, engaged in lengthy discussions with the woman to calm the situation. Officials successfully established a connection, and the woman's daughter came to the location to support the negotiators. The situation concluded without any further escalation as the woman voluntarily surrendered.
“We saved a life,” Collier stated at a press briefing on Thursday evening. “The positive news is that a mother and grandmother will be returning home tonight.”
Photos released by the Harris County Constable’s Office during the incident depict the woman seated in her chair, encircled by emergency responders.
During the incident, all lanes of I-45, in both directions, were closed, leading to traffic being redirected off the highway. The highway has been reopened following the conclusion of the standoff.
Authorities reported that the woman has a background of mental health issues, which probably played a role in the event. There were no reports of injuries.
