Overview

• A 64-year-old woman armed with a handgun sat in a folding chair on Interstate 45 after colliding with an 18-wheeler near Cypresswood Drive, shutting down both directions for five hours on June 26.
• Crisis Intervention Response Team negotiators communicated with the woman on the freeway and enlisted her daughter’s help to reduce tension and persuade her to disarm.
• The woman peacefully surrendered around 6:30 p.m., hugging negotiators before officers secured the scene without any injuries or use of force.
• By June 28, authorities confirmed she faces no criminal charges and has been admitted to a hospital for a mental health evaluation.
• All northbound and southbound lanes of I-45 have fully reopened, and officials lauded the outcome as an example of effective de-escalation in mental health emergencies on major highways.