The Deadliest Roads in Texas

Texas is the second biggest state in the US and has more highway miles than any other state. It is not the most dangerous—that dubious prize goes to California and Florida. Yet, a study last year reported in the Texas Monthly showed that 10 percent of fatal car accidents in the US happened in Texas. The study examined where such crashes are likely to occur.

The 5 Deadliest Roads

These are the five deadliest highways in Texas, calculated as deaths per mile:

1. The deadliest is I-69C in Edinburg, just north of the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. There were 8.05 fatalities per mile between 2013 and 2015. This figure is especially surprising because this area of the state is not as densely populated as its larger cities. The stretch of dangerous road is just 1.49 miles long.
2. The second most deadly highway is I-30 in Fort Worth. The approximately two-mile stretch between I-35 and Oakland Boulevard saw 14 fatalities between 2013 and 2015, giving it a rate of 7.05 deaths per mile. Other busy roads in Texas’s large cities saw similar rates. An 11-mile stretch of I-45 in Houston, between Tidwell Road and the south junction of the I-610 loop, saw 50 fatalities during that period. And a 14-mile stretch of I-40 in San Antonio had 50 crashes in those years.
3. I-35 is the most frequently listed road in the study—11 sections of this interstate appear. The deadliest stretch of I-35 is in Penwell, with about six deaths per mile.
4. I-35 in San Antonio is fourth on the list of Texas roads, and second on the list of fatalities on I-35, with a fatality rate of almost six deaths per mile.
5. State Highway 288 in Houston is fifth on the dangerous highways list. The stretch of highway between downtown and the beltway saw the deaths of 32 people between 2013 and 2015. That is nearly 5.9 fatalities per mile.

The statistics in this report can be viewed in many ways. For example, highways in the Odessa area, when taken together, make that part of the state the most dangerous. The Texas Monthly report suggested that this might be attributable to the oil and gas boom at the time of the study, resulting in an increase in the number of inexperienced truck drivers.

Serious or Fatal Car Accidents Can Happen Anywhere

The bottom line is drivers can suffer injury or even death on any stretch of road in Texas. If you are hurt or lose a loved one in a fatal car accident, it is important to find out about your rights and legal options. Speak with a knowledgeable Texas personal injury attorney to learn more.

Sources:

https://www.texasmonthly.com/the-daily-post/deadliest-highways-texas/;   http://abc13.com/traffic/highway-288-on-texas-top-5-deadly-highways-list/2315271/