[Study] Deadliest Road Stretches In Texas

Each year more than 2 million people are injured in car accidents, and over 40 thousand are killed. Motor vehicle crashes are one of the top causes of accidental death in the US, and the roadways in Texas are some of the most dangerous in the nation. According to data collected by the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT), 1 person was killed in a motor vehicle accident in Texas every two hours.

Texas roads have gotten more dangerous in recent years. In 2020, during the pandemic, the number of deadly crashes went up and the rates and has yet to come back down. According to TxDOT, the number of fatalities caused by motor vehicle accidents actually increased by more than 15% from 2020 to 2021.

So why are roads in Texas so dangerous? And where are the deadliest stretches of roads located? We took data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) for the years 2017-2021 to find where fatal crashes occurred in Texas. We then looked at road segments where multiple collisions occurred within a 1/2 mile of one another and grouped those together to create the deadliest stretches of road in the state.

As personal injury and car accident lawyers in Houston, we have seen firsthand the devastating effects fatal car accidents can have on families and the community. Because of this, we wanted to take a closer look at where the most fatal accidents occur in the state so that drivers can take extra precautions when driving through those areas.

We teamed up with data visualization agency 1Point21 Interactive to analyze the FARS data on fatal crashes in Texas and identify the 46 deadliest road segments in the state.

[Interactive Map] Deadly Sections of Road Throughout Texas

The map below is interactive– zoom in by pinching or using the mouse wheel. Road segments in red represent the deadliest in Texas, while grey roads highlight other areas of concern.  To reveal more information on each stretch, hover over the segment with your cursor.

 

The Deadliest Road Stretches In Texas 

The highway system in Texas is made up of a total of 14,092 highway miles. Of those 14,092 miles, the deadliest stretches identified in our study make up over 200 miles, and account for 733 fatal crashes with a total of 781 deaths.

The table below identifies the 46 deadliest stretches of road in Texas. Each stretch is identified by the road it is located on, the roads it stretches between, what city or county it can be found in, the number of fatal crashes that occurred along the stretch, the number of fatalities, and the length that the stretch spans.

Rank	Road	From	Location	Crashes	Deaths	Length
1	I-635	Welch Road to N. Town East Blvd.	Dallas	41	42	15.59
2	I-35E	Round Table Drive to S Marsalis Avenue	Dallas	34	37	9.08
3	FM-1093	Beltway 8 (W Sam Houston Parkway South) to McCue Road	Houston	32	33	5.72
4	SH 249	W Greens Road to Antoine Drive	Harris County	29	33	4.31
5	I-45	W Little York Road to Chartres Street	Houston	29	32	9.85
6	SPUR-421	Timco West to N Calaveras Street	San Antonio	24	25	5.14
7	SH 6	Barker Oaks Drive to Bissonnet Street	Harris County	23	23	4.48
8	I-35	E 39th Street to E Powell Lane	Austin	22	24	3.74
9	SH 180	Riverside Drive to Cooks Lane	Fort Worth	22	25	7.14
10	I-30	N Jim Miller Road to Northwest Drive	Dallas	21	21	5.93
11	US 75	E Lookout Drive to Ridgemont Drive	Plano	21	25	6.67
12	I-35W	E Belknap Street to Oak Grove Road	Fort Worth	20	20	6.3
13	FM-1960E	T C Jester Blvd to Theiss Road	Harris County	19	21	6.94
14	I-410	Alamo Downs Parkway to Farrel Drive	San Antonio	17	17	5.72
15	I-35	W Rundberg Lane to Tech Ridge Blvd	Austin	16	16	3.19
16	SH 310	Linfield Road to Youngblood Road	Dallas	14	14	3.04
17	I-820	Williard Road to W Kennedale Pkwy	Fort Worth	14	16	3.71
18	I-45	Rankin Road to Northville Street	Houston	14	15	4.02
19	I-10	Frankie Street to Oates Road	Houston	14	15	4.51
20	FM-1093	S Kirkwood Road to Briargreen Drive	Houston	13	13	2.94
21	I-20	Park Forest to Thelin Lane	Fort Worth	13	14	3.14
22	SH 87	Seawall Blvd to 57th Street	Galveston	13	13	3.6
23	FM 521	E Anderson Road to Reed Road	Houston	13	13	3.64
24	I-10	Rusk Street to Marina Street	Beaumont	13	13	3.77
25	FM 812	Creedmoor Drive to Elroy Road	Travis County	13	13	4.89
26	US 69	Cooks Lake Road to E Lucas Drive	Beaumont	13	15	5.95
27	I-35N	Windcrest Drive to Goldfield Drive	San Antonio	12	14	2.68
28	I-410	A Street to Ingram Road	San Antonio	12	13	4.1
29	US 90	Colt Drive to SW 34th Street	San Antonio	12	13	4.11
30	SH 183	Lincoln Avenue to Eastridge Ride	Fort Worth	12	12	4.29
31	SH 358	Ayers Street to Calvin Drive	Corpus Christi	11	13	2.84
32	SH 249	Breen Drive to Sunnywood Drive	Harris County	11	12	2.97
33	FM 529	Sommerall Drive to Fairview Street	Harris County	11	13	3.67
34	US 67	I-35 E to W Camp Wisdom Road	Dallas	11	11	3.72
35	I-10	Washington Avenue to Crockett Street	Houston	11	11	3.89
36	I-10	Beltway 8 (E Sam Houston Parkway North) to Magnolia Street	Harris County	11	11	4.07
37	US 380	Woodlawn Road to Monte Carlo Blvd	McKinney	11	13	4.26
38	I-30	Bigham Blvd to 8th Avenue	Fort Worth	11	12	4.95
39	I-30	N Hill Avenue to Ferguson Road	Dallas	10	12	2.85
40	I-35E	Walnut Hill Lane to Valley View Lane	Dallas	10	10	2.93
41	I-35	Manor Road to Mariposa Drive	Austin	10	10	3.21
42	US 90	S Major Drive to I-10	Beaumont	10	10	3.23
43	I-10	Airway Blvd to N Yarbrough Drive	El Paso	10	10	3.35
44	I-635	Emerald Street to Rosser Road	Dallas	10	12	3.36
45	I-10	N Oregon Street to Executive Center Blvd	El Paso	10	10	4.1
46	I-35E	San Jacinto Blvd to Lake Sharon Drive	Denton	10	11	4.67

The Deadliest Stretch of Road In Texas

The deadliest place of Texas roads is a 15 mile stretch of I-635 in Dallas. Locally known as the “LBJ Freeway”, this stretch of road has garnered a grim reputation due to its alarming frequency of fatal accidents. What sets this particular segment apart from others is its consistent record of fatal crashes occurring over a prolonged distance, making it the deadliest roadway in the state.

• Number 1: I-635 (Lyndon B Johnson Freeway)
• City: Dallas
• Welch Road to N Town East Blvd
• Fatal crashes: 41
• Fatalities: 42

The 15.59-mile expanse stretches between Welch Road and N Town East Boulevard and has witnessed 41 fatal crashes, resulting in the loss of 42 lives within the span of the past five years.

There are many factors contributing to the alarming fatality rate on this stretch of I-635. The interchanges with major roadways such as US 75, Dallas North Tollway (DNT), I-30, and S Garland Ave (highway 78) result in increased congestion, rapid lane changes, and complex merging patterns. While these interchanges are crucial for connectivity, they inadvertently create the perfect conditions for fatal accidents.

Additionally, the surrounding landscape further adds to the risks along this deadly stretch. Just off the freeway, there are several prominent big box stores, bustling shopping centers, dense neighborhoods, and a sprawling industrial area, creating a unique blend of high-speed commuter traffic and localized commercial activities. This wide variety of road users, ranging from daily commuters to delivery trucks, amplifies the potential for collisions and elevates the overall risks of the corridor.

A Closer Look At The Rest of the Top 10 Deadliest Stretches In Texas

Number 2: I-35E (Stemmons Freeway)

• City: Dallas
• Round Table Drive to S Marsalis Ave
• Fatal crashes: 34
• Fatalities: 37

The Second deadliest stretch of road in Texas is found on I-35 East in Dallas and runs from Round Table Drive to S Marsalis Ave. This stretch of highway is 9.08 miles long, with 34 fatal crashes resulting in 37 deaths. Along this stretch of freeway, there are three major interchanges with SH 183, Dallas North Tollway, and I-30. There are several commercial shopping centers, an industrial area, and large residential communities along this segment.

Number 3: FM 1093 (Westheimer Road)

• City: Houston
• Beltway 8 (W Sam Houston Parkway South) to McCue Road
• Fatal crashes: 32
• Fatalities: 33

The third deadliest stretch of road in Texas is found on FM 1093 in Houston. This 5.72-mile-long stretch runs from W Sam Houston Parkway to McCue Road and has seen 32 fatal crashes resulting in 33 deaths. This stretch runs between two major interstates, I-610 and Beltway 8 (locally known as Sam Houston Parkway). Lining this segment of road are commercial buildings like big box stores, restaurants, hotels, and more. Just beyond the commercial area are apartment buildings and expansive residential neighborhoods.

Number 4: TX 249 (Tomball Parkway)

• City: Houston Metro Area (Harris County)
• W Greens Road to Antoine Drive
• Fatal crashes: 29
• Fatalities: 33

The fourth deadliest stretch of road in Texas is on TX 249 in the Houston Metro Area and runs from W Greens Road to Antoine Drive. This deadly stretch is 4.31 miles long, with 29 fatal crashes and 33 deaths. Along this deadly stretch of road, there is one interchange with the Sam Houston Tollway, several shopping centers, a mall, and a large industrial area.

Number 5: I-45 (North Freeway)

• City: Houston
• W Little York Road to Chartres Street
• Fatal crashes: 29
• Fatalities: 32

The fifth deadliest stretch of road in Texas is on I-45 in Houston. This 9.85-mile-long segment of road stretches from W Little York Road to Chartres Street. There have been 29 fatal crashes and 32 deaths along this segment. This stretch of freeway connects a largely residential area to downtown Houston and contains freeway interchanges with I-610, I-10, and I-69.

Number 6: SPUR 421 (Bandera Road)

• City: San Antonio
• Timco West to N Calaveras Street
• Fatal crashes: 24
• Fatalities: 25

The sixth deadliest stretch of road in Texas is located along Bandera Road in San Antonio and runs from Timco West to N Calaveras Street. This stretch is 5.14 miles long with 24 fatal crashes and 25 deaths. This segment of road runs between I-410 and I-10, and is surrounded almost entirely by several large-scale residential neighborhoods. There are also a few commercial centers located immediately off of SPUR 421, locally known as Bandera Road.

Number 7: TX 6 (Addicks Howell Road)

• City: Houston Metro Area (Harris County)
• Barker Oaks Drive to Bissonnet Street
• Fatal crashes: 23
• Fatalities: 23

The seventh deadliest stretch of road in Texas is 4.48 miles long and located on TX 6 in the Houston Metro Area. Along this stretch between Barker Oaks Drive and Bissonnet Street, there have been 23 fatal crashes and 23 deaths. Along this stretch, there are three major intersections with main roads. Lining this road there is a mall, several grocery stores, and a Shell Technology Center, and just beyond the commercial buildings are several residential neighborhoods.

Number 8: I-35 (Interregional Highway)

• City: Austin
• E 39th Street to E Powell Lane
• Fatal crashes: 22
• Fatalities: 24

The eighth deadliest stretch of road in Texas can be found on I-35 in Austin. This 3.74-mile-long stretch between E 39th Street and E Powell Lane has seen 22 fatal crashes and 24 deaths. This stretch contains two interchanges, one with US-183 and another with US-290. This segment of freeway is lined with several large shopping centers, Austin Community College, and two hospitals.

Number 9: TX 180 (Lancaster Avenue)

• City: Fort Worth
• Riverside Drive to Cooks Lane
• Fatal crashes: 22
• Fatalities: 25

The ninth deadliest stretch of road in Texas is in Fort Worth on TX 180. This deadly segment is 7.14 miles long, stretching between Riverside Drive and Cooks Lane, and has seen 22 fatal crashes and 25 deaths. There is one interchange alone this deadly stretch of road with I-820. This segment is unique in that the eastern end of this road section is a rural area, with both sides of the road lined with fields, while the middle and western end of this segment contains several stand-alone commercial buildings and is surrounded by residential neighborhoods.

Number 10: I-30 (E R L Thorton Freeway)

• City: Dallas
• N Jim Miller Road to Northwest Drive
• Fatal crashes: 21
• Fatalities: 21

The tenth deadliest stretch of road in Texas is on I-30 in Dallas, running from N Jim Miller Road to Northwest Drive. This stretch is 5.93 miles long and has seen 21 fatal crashes and 21 deaths. This stretch of freeway contains three interchanges with I-635, US 80, and TX 12 and mainly runs through residential neighborhoods, with a small section crossing an industrial area.

Mapping the Risk: Geographical Distribution of Deadliest Roads across Texas Metropolitan Areas

After seeing the top 46 deadliest road segments, let’s see what metropolitan areas of Texas contain the most concentration of deadly road stretches.

Number 1: Dallas Fort Worth Metropolitan Area

City Rank	State Rank	Road	From	Fatal Crashes	Fatalities	Length
1	1	I-635	Welch Road to N. Town East Blvd.	41	42	15.59
2	2	I-35E	Round Table Drive to S Marsalis Avenue	34	37	9.08
3	9	SH 180	Riverside Drive to Cooks Lane	22	25	7.14
4	11	US 75	E Lookout Drive to Ridgemont Drive	21	25	6.67
5	10	I-30	N Jim Miller Road to Northwest Drive	21	21	5.93
6	12	I-35W	E Belknap Street to Oak Grove Road	20	20	6.3
7	17	I-820	Williard Road to W Kennedale Pkwy	14	16	3.71
8	16	SH 310	Linfield Road to Youngblood Road	14	14	3.04
9	21	I-20	Park Forest to Thelin Lane	13	14	3.14
10	30	SH 183	Lincoln Avenue to Eastridge Ride	12	12	4.29
11	37	US 380	Woodlawn Road to Monte Carlo Blvd	11	13	4.26
12	38	I-30	Bigham Blvd to 8th Avenue	11	12	4.95
13	34	US 67	I-35 E to W Camp Wisdom Road	11	11	3.72
14	39	I-30	N Hill Avenue to Ferguson Road	10	12	2.85
15	44	I-635	Emerald Street to Rosser Road	10	12	3.36
16	46	I-35E	San Jacinto Blvd to Lake Sharon Drive	10	11	4.67
17	40	I-35E	Walnut Hill Lane to Valley View Lane	10	10	2.93

 

The Dallas Fort Worth metropolitan area contains 17 of the top 46 deadliest road stretches in Texas. These 17 stretches make up about 91 miles of highway and account for 285 fatal crashes and 307 fatalities.

Number 2: Houston Metropolitan Area

City Rank	State Rank	Road	From	Fatal Crashes	Fatalities	Length
1	3	FM-1093	Beltway 8 (W Sam Houston Parkway South) to McCue Road	32	33	5.72
2	4	SH 249	W Greens Road to Antoine Drive	29	33	4.31
3	5	I-45	W Little York Road to Chartres Street	29	32	9.85
4	7	SH 6	Barker Oaks Drive to Bissonnet Street	23	23	4.48
5	13	FM-1960E	T C Jester Blvd to Theiss Road	19	21	6.94
6	18	I-45	Rankin Road to Northville Street	14	15	4.02
7	19	I-10	Frankie Street to Oates Road	14	15	4.51
8	26	US 69	Cooks Lake Road to E Lucas Drive	13	15	5.95
9	20	FM-1093	S Kirkwood Road to Briargreen Drive	13	13	2.94
10	23	FM 521	E Anderson Road to Reed Road	13	13	3.64
11	24	I-10	Rusk Street to Marina Street	13	13	3.77
12	33	FM 529	Sommerall Drive to Fairview Street	11	13	3.67
13	32	SH 249	Breen Drive to Sunnywood Drive	11	12	2.97
14	35	I-10	Washington Avenue to Crockett Street	11	11	3.89
15	36	I-10	Beltway 8 (E Sam Houston Parkway North) to Magnolia Street	11	11	4.07
16	42	US 90	S Major Drive to I-10	10	10	3.23

 

The Houston metropolitan area contains 16 of the top 46 deadliest road stretches in the state. These 17 stretches make up about 74 miles of highway and account for 266 fatal crashes and 283 fatalities.

Number 3: San Antonio Metropolitan Area

City Rank	State Rank	Road	From	Fatal Crashes	Fatalities	Length
1	6	SPUR-421	Timco West to N Calaveras Street	24	25	5.14
2	14	I-410	Alamo Downs Parkway to Farrel Drive	17	17	5.72
3	27	I-35N	Windcrest Drive to Goldfield Drive	12	14	2.68
4	28	I-410	A Street to Ingram Road	12	13	4.1
5	29	US 90	Colt Drive to SW 34th Street	12	13	4.11

 

The San Antonio metropolitan area contains five of the top 46 deadliest road stretches in Texas. These five stretches make up over 20 miles of highway and account for 77 fatal crashes and 82 fatalities.

Number 4: Austin Metropolitan Area

City Rank	State Rank	Road	From	Fatal Crashes	Fatalities	Length
1	8	I-35	E 39th Street to E Powell Lane	22	24	3.74
2	15	I-35	W Rundberg Lane to Tech Ridge Blvd	16	16	3.19
3	25	FM 812	Creedmoor Drive to Elroy Road	13	13	4.89
4	41	I-35	Manor Road to Mariposa Drive	10	10	3.21

 

The Austin metropolitan area contains four of the top 46 deadliest road stretches in Texas. These four stretches make up about 15 miles of highway and account for 61 fatal crashes and 63 fatalities.

The remaining four deadly stretches from the top 46 are located in Galveston (1), El Paso (2), and Corpus Cristi (1).

Takeaways, Data Sources, & Methodology

In Texas, car accidents, especially fatal ones, are all too common. Many factors contribute to this, including dense populations in metropolitan areas increasing traffic on the roads, and extreme weather ranging from snowy, icy roads, to heavy rainfall.  Armed with the knowledge of where the deadliest roads are located in the state, drivers can take extra precautions when entering those areas, or choose to avoid them when possible.

Our aim, when conducting this study, was to inform residents of where the deadliest roads are and to raise awareness. With this information in mind, we hope that drivers in these areas will drive slower, stay alert, and be aware of their surroundings in an effort to reduce the fatal accidents and deaths that occur here every year.

To determine which stretches of road were the most deadly we took data from the NHTSA FARS database from the years 2017-2021 to see where fatal crashes in Texas took place. We then grouped together accidents that occurred within a 1/2 mile radius of each other to create the top 46 deadliest stretches in the state. To determine tie-breakers we looked at the number of crashes that occurred per mile, and then the deaths that occurred per mile to get the most accurate ranking for our list.

If you would like to use any of the findings, data, or images produced for this study in a report of your own or for republishing purposes, please provide a link to this page for credit.

If you would like to schedule a free consultation for a Texas car accident or wrongful death case, contact our team today.