US 79 in Texas: fatal crashes
From 2015 to 2024, 153 fatal crashes on US 79 in Texas killed 182 people, the 29th most of 443 numbered roads in Texas. In 2024 there were 5 fatal crashes and 5 deaths on the road.
A US route running through 9 counties of Texas. All fatal crashes in Texas.
Deaths on US 79 in Texas by year
| Year | Fatal crashes | Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 5 | 5 |
| 2023 | 21 | 27 |
| 2022 | 18 | 23 |
| 2021 | 19 | 24 |
| 2020 | 12 | 14 |
| 2019 | 14 | 17 |
| 2018 | 16 | 18 |
| 2017 | 14 | 17 |
| 2016 | 21 | 22 |
| 2015 | 13 | 15 |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
Where on US 79 in Texas: the counties with the most fatal crashes
Panola County had the most fatal crashes on US 79 from 2015 to 2024: 28, with 35 deaths. Panola, Milam and Leon counties together held 50% of fatal crashes on US 79 in Texas from 2015 to 2024. Counties are listed from 5 fatal crashes.
| County | 2024 | 2015 to 2024 | Deaths | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Panola County | 1 | 28 | 35 |
| 2 | Milam County | 0 | 25 | 29 |
| 3 | Leon County | 2 | 23 | 26 |
| 4 | Rusk County | 1 | 19 | 23 |
| 5 | Williamson County | 0 | 19 | 21 |
| 6 | Anderson County | 1 | 17 | 17 |
| 7 | Robertson County | 0 | 11 | 16 |
| 8 | Cherokee County | 0 | 6 | 10 |
| 9 | Freestone County | 0 | 5 | 5 |
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 79 in Texas
153 fatal crashes on US 79 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 3 pm to 4 pm; the worst month is November.
| Midnight to 4 | 4 to 8 am | 8 to noon | Noon to 4 | 4 to 8 pm | 8 to midnight | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun | 2.6 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 2.0 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 0.7 percent, 1 fatal crash | 2.6 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 3.9 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 1.3 percent, 2 fatal crashes |
| Mon | 0.7 percent, 1 fatal crash | 2.6 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 0.7 percent, 1 fatal crash | 2.0 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 2.6 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 2.6 percent, 4 fatal crashes |
| Tue | 0.7 percent, 1 fatal crash | 3.3 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 2.6 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 2.6 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 2.0 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 2.0 percent, 3 fatal crashes |
| Wed | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 1.3 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 2.0 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 3.3 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 5.9 percent, 9 fatal crashes | 2.6 percent, 4 fatal crashes |
| Thu | 0.7 percent, 1 fatal crash | 2.6 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 0.7 percent, 1 fatal crash | 3.3 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 2.6 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 3.3 percent, 5 fatal crashes |
| Fri | 1.3 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 3.3 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 2.0 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 5.2 percent, 8 fatal crashes | 2.6 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 2.0 percent, 3 fatal crashes |
| Sat | 2.0 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 3.9 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 1.3 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 4.6 percent, 7 fatal crashes | 3.3 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 3.3 percent, 5 fatal crashes |
By hour
By month
- Jan8.5%
- Feb3.9%
- Mar5.2%
- Apr9.8%
- May8.5%
- Jun5.9%
- Jul8.5%
- Aug8.5%
- Sep7.2%
- Oct9.8%
- Nov13.1%
- Dec11.1%
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 79 in Texas first hit
The first harmful event was a collision with another vehicle in most fatal crashes, 61%; a fixed object such as a tree, pole or barrier in 22%, a pedestrian in 8.5%, a rollover in 3.9%.
| First harmful event | Fatal crashes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Collision with another vehicle | 94 | 61% |
| Fixed object (tree, pole, barrier, ditch) | 34 | 22% |
| Pedestrian | 13 | 8.5% |
| Rollover | 6 | 3.9% |
| Cyclist | 4 | 2.6% |
| Parked vehicle | 1 | 0.7% |
| Other | 1 | 0.7% |
| 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 79 in Texas compare with the state
The largest difference from Texas: from 2015 to 2024, 80% of fatal crashes on US 79 in Texas were on rural roads, against 38% across Texas. Below the Texas share: speeding, unbelted occupants, 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 153 crashes.
| US 79 | Texas | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| On rural stretches | 80% | 38% | above the Texas share |
| At or near an intersection | 21% | 22% | about the same as the Texas share |
| In the dark, road unlit | 34% | 31% | about the same as the Texas share |
| A drinking driver | 22% | 26% | about the same as the Texas share |
| Speeding | 21% | 32% | below the Texas share |
| A distracted driver (as recorded) | 8.5% | 10% | about the same as the Texas share |
| Occupants killed unbelted | 33% | 45% | below the Texas share |
| Hit-and-run | 0.7% | 7.6% | below the Texas share |
| A motorcycle involved | 5.9% | 14% | below the Texas share |
| Pedestrians among the dead | 8.8% | 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 79 in Texas
- How many fatal crashes have there been on US 79 in Texas?
- 153 fatal crashes killed 182 people on US 79 in Texas from 2015 to 2024. In 2024 there were 5 fatal crashes and 5 deaths. Source: NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS).
- Where on US 79 in Texas do the most fatal crashes happen?
- Panola County had the most fatal crashes on US 79 from 2015 to 2024: 28, with 35 deaths. Milam County was second with 25.
Other roads in Texas with a page
All fatal crashes in Texas, with every road ranked.
Where the US 79 numbers come from
Counted from NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2024 Annual Report File: every fatal crash whose road NHTSA filed as US 79 in Texas (filed under 18 spellings, such as "US-79", "US-79 2ND ST", "US-79 CARLOS G PARKER BLVD", "US-79 CARTHAGE HWY"). 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.