Dad and Daughter Spent 6 Hours Stuck in Traffic Due to Icy Houston Weather: 'Lots of Bonding Time'

Mar. 15, 2025

Motorist exit their cars as traffic comes to a stop on westbound 1-10 at I-45 due to icy conditions on Friday, Feb. 4, 2011, in Houston.Photo:Smiley N. Pool/Houston Chronicle via Getty

Smiley N. Pool/Houston Chronicle via Getty

A father and daughter were among the thousands of drivers who got stuck on a Texas tollway for hoursamid icy conditionson Monday.

“As soon as we got off from the Grand Parkway, it was literally five minutes [away], and we were dead stopped,” he said.

Brent and Courtney weren’t alone.

The HCTRAsaid in a Monday evening post on X,formerly known as Twitter, that crews had finally “finished treating the northbound lanes of the Hardy Toll Road.”

“However, icy conditions remain on the southbound lanes and crews are currently treating those lanes,” they added. “Even with a second treatment, icy conditions could remain due to the extreme cold and without a warming trend to assist the de-icing mixture.”

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“Even as conditions worsened, they responded to reports of icy conditions throughout the day, laying sand or aggregate to help create traction,” the department added. “Some freeway overpasses and bridges were ultimately closed in the interest of public safety.”

The HCOHSEM shared that most residents “do not have experience driving in wintery conditions and the result is always a large number of motor vehicle accidents and long traffic delays.” Making matters worse, the office noted that “first responders and road crews are often stuck in the same traffic as other motorists and unable to provide timely assistance.”

source: people.com