I-40 in Texas: fatal crashes
From 2015 to 2024, 102 fatal crashes on I-40 in Texas killed 135 people, the 45th most of 443 numbered roads in Texas. In 2024 there were 11 fatal crashes and 17 deaths on the road.
An interstate running through 7 counties of Texas. All fatal crashes in Texas. I-40 in every state.
Deaths on I-40 in Texas by year
| Year | Fatal crashes | Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 11 | 17 |
| 2023 | 10 | 11 |
| 2022 | 12 | 20 |
| 2021 | 4 | 4 |
| 2020 | 14 | 15 |
| 2019 | 11 | 15 |
| 2018 | 5 | 6 |
| 2017 | 12 | 18 |
| 2016 | 15 | 17 |
| 2015 | 8 | 12 |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
Where on I-40 in Texas: the counties with the most fatal crashes
Potter County had the most fatal crashes on I-40 from 2015 to 2024: 29, with 35 deaths. Potter, Oldham and Carson counties together held 71% of fatal crashes on I-40 in Texas from 2015 to 2024; the 5 listed held 98%. Counties are listed from 5 fatal crashes.
| County | 2024 | 2015 to 2024 | Deaths | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Potter County | 3 | 29 | 35 |
| 2 | Oldham County | 5 | 24 | 37 |
| 3 | Carson County | 2 | 19 | 26 |
| 4 | Wheeler County | 1 | 16 | 20 |
| 5 | Gray County | 0 | 12 | 14 |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
When fatal crashes happen on I-40 in Texas
102 fatal crashes on I-40 in Texas from 2015 to 2024 have a known time, too few for any one weekday and time of day to stand out. The worst hour is 9 am to 10 am; the worst month is June.
| Midnight to 4 | 4 to 8 am | 8 to noon | Noon to 4 | 4 to 8 pm | 8 to midnight | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun | 4.9 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 2.0 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 2.0 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 2.0 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 3.9 percent, 4 fatal crashes |
| Mon | 2.9 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 2.0 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 3.9 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 3.9 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 3 fatal crashes |
| Tue | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 2.0 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 2.0 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.0 percent, 1 fatal crash | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 3 fatal crashes |
| Wed | 2.0 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.0 percent, 1 fatal crash | 3.9 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 2.0 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.0 percent, 1 fatal crash |
| Thu | 1.0 percent, 1 fatal crash | 1.0 percent, 1 fatal crash | 2.9 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 1.0 percent, 1 fatal crash | 1.0 percent, 1 fatal crash | 3.9 percent, 4 fatal crashes |
| Fri | 5.9 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 1.0 percent, 1 fatal crash | 2.0 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 3.9 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 3 fatal crashes |
| Sat | 2.0 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.0 percent, 1 fatal crash | 6.9 percent, 7 fatal crashes | 3.9 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 1.0 percent, 1 fatal crash | 2.0 percent, 2 fatal crashes |
By hour
By month
- Jan2.9%
- Feb8.8%
- Mar7.8%
- Apr7.8%
- May10.8%
- Jun11.8%
- Jul10.8%
- Aug7.8%
- Sep7.8%
- Oct7.8%
- Nov5.9%
- Dec9.8%
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
Fatal crashes per mile on I-40 in Texas
5.8 fatal crashes a year per 100 miles over 2015 to 2024, on 177 miles of I-40 in Texas, against 15.4 for all interstates in Texas. That ranks 11 of 12 interstates in Texas and 121 of 172 interstate pages on this site.
Mileage from the FHWA Interstate route log (table 1), the only figure here not counted from FARS. Crashes per mile of road, not per vehicle: FARS records crashes, not traffic.
What fatal crashes on I-40 in Texas first hit
The first harmful event was a collision with another vehicle in 50%; a rollover in 19%, a fixed object such as a tree, pole or barrier in 13%, a pedestrian in 12%.
| First harmful event | Fatal crashes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Collision with another vehicle | 51 | 50% |
| Rollover | 19 | 19% |
| Fixed object (tree, pole, barrier, ditch) | 13 | 13% |
| Pedestrian | 12 | 12% |
| Parked vehicle | 4 | 3.9% |
| Other | 2 | 2.0% |
| Cyclist | 1 | 1.0% |
| Not reported | 0 | 0.0% |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
How fatal crashes on I-40 in Texas compare with the state
The largest difference from Texas: from 2015 to 2024, 78% of fatal crashes on I-40 in Texas were on rural roads, against 38% across Texas. Below the Texas share: intersections, drinking drivers and unbelted occupants. Shares of fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024, against the share across all of Texas. A share is only given over 20 crashes; above or below means more than chance would give on 102 crashes.
| I-40 | Texas | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| On rural stretches | 78% | 38% | above the Texas share |
| At or near an intersection | 4.9% | 22% | below the Texas share |
| In the dark, road unlit | 38% | 31% | about the same as the Texas share |
| A drinking driver | 9.8% | 26% | below the Texas share |
| Speeding | 28% | 32% | about the same as the Texas share |
| A distracted driver (as recorded) | 11% | 10% | about the same as the Texas share |
| Occupants killed unbelted | 33% | 45% | below the Texas share |
| Hit-and-run | 4.9% | 7.6% | about the same as the Texas share |
| A motorcycle involved | 8.8% | 14% | about the same as the Texas share |
| Pedestrians among the dead | 12% | 18% | about the same as the Texas share |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
Questions about fatal crashes on I-40 in Texas
- How many fatal crashes have there been on I-40 in Texas?
- 102 fatal crashes killed 135 people on I-40 in Texas from 2015 to 2024. In 2024 there were 11 fatal crashes and 17 deaths. Source: NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS).
- Where on I-40 in Texas do the most fatal crashes happen?
- Potter County had the most fatal crashes on I-40 from 2015 to 2024: 29, with 35 deaths. Oldham County was second with 24.
- How dangerous is I-40 in Texas per mile?
- 5.8 fatal crashes a year per 100 miles over 2015 to 2024, on 177 miles of road, against 15.4 for all interstates in Texas. That ranks 11 of 12 interstates in Texas and 121 of 172 interstate pages on this site. FARS records crashes, not traffic, so this is crashes per mile of road, not per vehicle.
Other roads in Texas with a page
All fatal crashes in Texas, with every road ranked.
Where the I-40 numbers come from
Counted from NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2024 Annual Report File: every fatal crash whose road NHTSA filed as I-40 in Texas (filed under 4 spellings, such as "I-40", "I-40 E", "I-40 I", "I-40/OLD ROUTE 66"). Ramps, frontage and service roads are left out. Where two routes share a road, NHTSA files each crash under one of them, so a shared stretch counts on one route only. A fatal crash is one in which someone died within 30 days. Totals in state and news reports for a road usually differ: they include ramps and frontage roads, or count from preliminary reports. The full method.