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A 64-year-old woman armed with a revolver caused an hours-long standoff on Interstate 45 in Spring, Texas, on Thursday (June 26). The incident began when the woman intentionally collided with an 18-wheeler around 1:30 p.m., according to the Harris County Sheriff’s Office. After the crash, she sat in a lawn chair in the middle of the highway, holding the gun to her head and refusing to comply with officers' commands.
The woman's actions led to a five-hour standoff, during which she expressed suicidal thoughts.
Traffic was shut down in both directions, causing significant delays as police negotiated with the woman. Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez described the situation as "very delicate" due to the woman's mental health issues and history of psychosis. Crisis negotiators and the woman's daughter were brought to the scene to help de-escalate the situation.
The woman eventually surrendered after speaking with her daughter, who assured her of her safety. She was taken into custody without any injuries and transported to a local hospital for evaluation.
The truck driver involved in the crash was unharmed. Sheriff Gonzalez praised the peaceful resolution, stating, "Someone’s mother, grandmother is coming home tonight, maybe not tonight, after she gets some help." The woman may face citations for the deliberate collision.
The intervention by her daughter and crisis response teams was crucial in resolving the situation without violence.