US 59 in Texas: fatal crashes
From 2015 to 2024, 412 fatal crashes on US 59 in Texas killed 497 people, the 6th most of 443 numbered roads in Texas. In 2024 there were 36 fatal crashes and 42 deaths on the road.
A US route running through 23 counties of Texas. All fatal crashes in Texas.
Deaths on US 59 in Texas by year
| Year | Fatal crashes | Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 36 | 42 |
| 2023 | 40 | 42 |
| 2022 | 33 | 43 |
| 2021 | 52 | 65 |
| 2020 | 50 | 62 |
| 2019 | 37 | 47 |
| 2018 | 37 | 44 |
| 2017 | 39 | 41 |
| 2016 | 49 | 60 |
| 2015 | 39 | 51 |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
Where on US 59 in Texas: the counties with the most fatal crashes
Nacogdoches County had the most fatal crashes on US 59 from 2015 to 2024: 40, with 45 deaths. Nacogdoches, Polk and Wharton counties together held 28% of fatal crashes on US 59 in Texas from 2015 to 2024; the 15 listed held 88%. Counties are listed from 5 fatal crashes.
| County | 2024 | 2015 to 2024 | Deaths | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nacogdoches County | 2 | 40 | 45 |
| 2 | Polk County | 4 | 40 | 45 |
| 3 | Wharton County | 5 | 37 | 53 |
| 4 | Victoria County | 4 | 32 | 40 |
| 5 | Harris County | 0 | 28 | 28 |
| 6 | Cass County | 2 | 27 | 32 |
| 7 | San Jacinto County | 3 | 27 | 29 |
| 8 | Harrison County | 1 | 26 | 30 |
| 9 | Angelina County | 3 | 24 | 31 |
| 10 | Live Oak County | 2 | 16 | 23 |
| 11 | Panola County | 2 | 16 | 20 |
| 12 | Jackson County | 2 | 15 | 22 |
| 13 | Liberty County | 0 | 12 | 13 |
| 14 | Bowie County | 0 | 11 | 11 |
| 15 | Fort Bend County | 0 | 10 | 11 |
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 US 59 in Texas
The heaviest slot is Saturday, midnight to 4 am (the night from Friday), with 20 fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024. The worst hour is 6 pm to 7 pm; the worst month is July.
| Midnight to 4 | 4 to 8 am | 8 to noon | Noon to 4 | 4 to 8 pm | 8 to midnight | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun | 3.2 percent, 13 fatal crashes | 1.7 percent, 7 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 12 fatal crashes | 2.4 percent, 10 fatal crashes | 2.2 percent, 9 fatal crashes |
| Mon | 1.5 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 1.7 percent, 7 fatal crashes | 1.7 percent, 7 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 2.2 percent, 9 fatal crashes | 1.7 percent, 7 fatal crashes |
| Tue | 0.5 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 2.2 percent, 9 fatal crashes | 2.7 percent, 11 fatal crashes | 2.7 percent, 11 fatal crashes | 1.0 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 2.4 percent, 10 fatal crashes |
| Wed | 1.5 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 3.2 percent, 13 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 3.6 percent, 15 fatal crashes | 3.2 percent, 13 fatal crashes | 3.2 percent, 13 fatal crashes |
| Thu | 2.7 percent, 11 fatal crashes | 2.2 percent, 9 fatal crashes | 2.4 percent, 10 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 12 fatal crashes | 3.9 percent, 16 fatal crashes | 1.9 percent, 8 fatal crashes |
| Fri | 1.9 percent, 8 fatal crashes | 2.7 percent, 11 fatal crashes | 2.7 percent, 11 fatal crashes | 2.4 percent, 10 fatal crashes | 4.6 percent, 19 fatal crashes | 3.4 percent, 14 fatal crashes |
| Sat | 4.9 percent, 20 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 1.7 percent, 7 fatal crashes | 2.2 percent, 9 fatal crashes | 2.4 percent, 10 fatal crashes | 2.2 percent, 9 fatal crashes |
By hour
By month
- Jan8.0%
- Feb6.6%
- Mar9.0%
- Apr6.6%
- May10.7%
- Jun5.8%
- Jul11.2%
- Aug8.3%
- Sep6.8%
- Oct8.0%
- Nov8.5%
- Dec10.7%
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
What fatal crashes on US 59 in Texas first hit
The first harmful event was a collision with another vehicle in most fatal crashes, 53%; a fixed object such as a tree, pole or barrier in 17%, a pedestrian in 13%, a rollover in 11%.
| First harmful event | Fatal crashes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Collision with another vehicle | 217 | 53% |
| Fixed object (tree, pole, barrier, ditch) | 71 | 17% |
| Pedestrian | 53 | 13% |
| Rollover | 46 | 11% |
| Other | 13 | 3.2% |
| Parked vehicle | 7 | 1.7% |
| Cyclist | 5 | 1.2% |
| 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 US 59 in Texas compare with the state
The largest difference from Texas: from 2015 to 2024, 69% of fatal crashes on US 59 in Texas were on rural roads, against 38% across Texas. Also above the Texas share: unlit roads at night. Below it: drinking drivers, speeding, hit-and-runs, motorcycles and pedestrians. 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 412 crashes.
| US 59 | Texas | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| On rural stretches | 69% | 38% | above the Texas share |
| At or near an intersection | 22% | 22% | about the same as the Texas share |
| In the dark, road unlit | 38% | 31% | above the Texas share |
| A drinking driver | 16% | 26% | below the Texas share |
| Speeding | 23% | 32% | below the Texas share |
| A distracted driver (as recorded) | 8.7% | 10% | about the same as the Texas share |
| Occupants killed unbelted | 42% | 45% | about the same as the Texas share |
| Hit-and-run | 3.2% | 7.6% | below the Texas share |
| A motorcycle involved | 6.6% | 14% | below the Texas share |
| Pedestrians among the dead | 13% | 18% | below 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 US 59 in Texas
- How many fatal crashes have there been on US 59 in Texas?
- 412 fatal crashes killed 497 people on US 59 in Texas from 2015 to 2024. In 2024 there were 36 fatal crashes and 42 deaths. Source: NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS).
- Where on US 59 in Texas do the most fatal crashes happen?
- Nacogdoches County had the most fatal crashes on US 59 from 2015 to 2024: 40, with 45 deaths. Polk County was second with 40.
- When do fatal crashes on US 59 in Texas happen most often?
- The heaviest slot from 2015 to 2024 was Saturday, midnight to 4 am (the night from Friday), with 20 fatal crashes.
Other roads in Texas with a page
All fatal crashes in Texas, with every road ranked.
Where the US 59 numbers come from
Counted from NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2024 Annual Report File: every fatal crash whose road NHTSA filed as US 59 in Texas (filed under 40 spellings, such as "US-59", "US-59 BU", "US-59 BU/HOUSTON", "US-59 BU/TIMBERLAND DR"). 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.