BALTIMORE COUNTY, MD – A two-vehicle crash forced the closure of southbound lanes on I-795 in Baltimore County Wednesday night, creating a traffic backup near the interchange with I-695.
WBFF reported that the collision happened on Sept. 30 on I-795 South just before Exit 1B of I-695. Drivers in the southbound lanes were seen turning around on the shoulder as crews responded to the scene.
Northbound traffic on I-795 was not affected and remained open while the southbound side was shut down.
Crash blocks traffic just before the I-695 interchange
The location of the crash placed the disruption close to one of the key connecting points in the area. Exit 1B of I-695 serves as a major route for motorists moving between I-795 and the Baltimore Beltway.
Because the wreck occurred on the southbound side, the closure mainly affected drivers headed toward the Baltimore area from points farther north. The shoulder became the only visible way for some vehicles to reverse direction and leave the blocked area.
WBFF did not say how many vehicles were involved beyond describing the incident as a two-vehicle crash. No immediate information was released about injuries or what caused the collision.
Southbound drivers were seen turning around on the shoulder
Video from the scene showed motorists using the southbound shoulder to turn around after traffic came to a stop. That kind of maneuver can happen when a roadway is fully blocked and drivers need to find a way out of the closure.
The scene suggested that the shutdown affected not just the immediate crash area, but also the flow of traffic behind it. When lanes close on a limited-access highway, backups can form quickly as vehicles wait for responders to clear the roadway.
The reporting from WBFF did not identify whether lane closures extended for a long stretch or how long the southbound shutdown lasted. It also did not include a timeline for reopening.
Northbound lanes stayed open during the incident
While the southbound lanes were blocked, northbound traffic on I-795 continued moving. That detail mattered for drivers trying to figure out whether the entire corridor was affected or only one direction.
Keeping one side open often helps limit the impact of a crash on a busy roadway, even when the opposite direction is shut down. In this case, the northbound lanes provided at least some continuity for commuters and other drivers traveling through the corridor.
Even so, the crash likely created delays for southbound traffic and for anyone trying to reach I-695 through the interchange. WBFF said the story would be updated as more information became available.
What was known about the crash late Wednesday
The initial report identified the crash only as a two-vehicle collision on Sept. 30. It did not name the people involved or provide details about the vehicles themselves.
Officials also had not released information about injuries, citations, or whether any towing or roadway cleanup was needed before the southbound lanes could reopen. Those details are often determined later, after emergency responders and investigators assess the scene.
For drivers, the immediate takeaway was simple: southbound I-795 was shut down near Exit 1B of I-695, and the closure happened on a Wednesday night. No broader impact on the northbound side was reported.
Why closures on I-795 can ripple through Baltimore County
I-795 is a key route for drivers moving through Baltimore County, and closures near the I-695 interchange can affect more than just one roadway segment. Traffic heading toward the Beltway may have to slow, detour, or wait while emergency crews work.
Even a brief shutdown can matter during evening travel, when many drivers are already trying to get home. In that setting, a crash near an interchange can interrupt multiple travel patterns at once.
WBFF’s update focused on the immediate shutdown and the visible response from drivers and first responders. It did not say whether additional lanes, ramps, or nearby roads were also impacted.
