US 81 in Texas: fatal crashes
From 2015 to 2024, 69 fatal crashes on US 81 in Texas killed 82 people, the 68th most of 443 numbered roads in Texas. In 2024 there were 15 fatal crashes and 21 deaths on the road.
A US route running through 3 counties of Texas. All fatal crashes in Texas.
Deaths on US 81 in Texas by year
| Year | Fatal crashes | Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 15 | 21 |
| 2023 | 9 | 12 |
| 2022 | 5 | 6 |
| 2021 | 4 | 4 |
| 2020 | 2 | 2 |
| 2019 | 3 | 5 |
| 2018 | 6 | 6 |
| 2017 | 9 | 9 |
| 2016 | 9 | 10 |
| 2015 | 7 | 7 |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
Where on US 81 in Texas: the counties with the most fatal crashes
Wise County had the most fatal crashes on US 81 from 2015 to 2024: 47, with 56 deaths. Wise, Montague and Tarrant counties together held 100% of fatal crashes on US 81 in Texas from 2015 to 2024. Counties are listed from 5 fatal crashes.
| County | 2024 | 2015 to 2024 | Deaths | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wise County | 10 | 47 | 56 |
| 2 | Montague County | 5 | 16 | 20 |
| 3 | Tarrant County | 0 | 6 | 6 |
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 81 in Texas
69 fatal crashes on US 81 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 7 pm to 8 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 | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 1.4 percent, 1 fatal crash | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 1.4 percent, 1 fatal crash | 1.4 percent, 1 fatal crash | 5.8 percent, 4 fatal crashes |
| Mon | 1.4 percent, 1 fatal crash | 1.4 percent, 1 fatal crash | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 4.3 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 7.2 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes |
| Tue | 2.9 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.4 percent, 1 fatal crash |
| Wed | 2.9 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.4 percent, 1 fatal crash | 1.4 percent, 1 fatal crash | 4.3 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 1.4 percent, 1 fatal crash |
| Thu | 1.4 percent, 1 fatal crash | 5.8 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.4 percent, 1 fatal crash | 5.8 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 1.4 percent, 1 fatal crash |
| Fri | 2.9 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 4.3 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 1.4 percent, 1 fatal crash | 1.4 percent, 1 fatal crash | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 1.4 percent, 1 fatal crash |
| Sat | 4.3 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 5.8 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 1.4 percent, 1 fatal crash | 4.3 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 7.2 percent, 5 fatal crashes |
By hour
By month
- Jan1.4%
- Feb2.9%
- Mar13.0%
- Apr4.3%
- May7.2%
- Jun7.2%
- Jul10.1%
- Aug7.2%
- Sep8.7%
- Oct10.1%
- Nov18.8%
- Dec8.7%
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 81 in Texas first hit
The first harmful event was a collision with another vehicle in most fatal crashes, 52%; a rollover in 23%, a fixed object such as a tree, pole or barrier in 20%, a pedestrian in 1.4%.
| First harmful event | Fatal crashes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Collision with another vehicle | 36 | 52% |
| Rollover | 16 | 23% |
| Fixed object (tree, pole, barrier, ditch) | 14 | 20% |
| Pedestrian | 1 | 1.4% |
| Parked vehicle | 1 | 1.4% |
| Other | 1 | 1.4% |
| Cyclist | 0 | 0.0% |
| 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 US 81 in Texas compare with the state
The largest difference from Texas: from 2015 to 2024, 71% of fatal crashes on US 81 in Texas were on rural roads, against 38% across Texas. Also above the Texas share: unlit roads at night. Below it: unbelted occupants, hit-and-runs 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 69 crashes.
| US 81 | Texas | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| On rural stretches | 71% | 38% | above the Texas share |
| At or near an intersection | 17% | 22% | about the same as the Texas share |
| In the dark, road unlit | 62% | 31% | above the Texas share |
| A drinking driver | 26% | 26% | about the same as the Texas share |
| Speeding | 26% | 32% | about the same as the Texas share |
| A distracted driver (as recorded) | 17% | 10% | about the same as the Texas share |
| Occupants killed unbelted | 29% | 45% | below the Texas share |
| Hit-and-run | 0.0% | 7.6% | below the Texas share |
| A motorcycle involved | 7.2% | 14% | about the same as the Texas share |
| Pedestrians among the dead | 2.4% | 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 81 in Texas
- How many fatal crashes have there been on US 81 in Texas?
- 69 fatal crashes killed 82 people on US 81 in Texas from 2015 to 2024. In 2024 there were 15 fatal crashes and 21 deaths. Source: NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS).
- Where on US 81 in Texas do the most fatal crashes happen?
- Wise County had the most fatal crashes on US 81 from 2015 to 2024: 47, with 56 deaths. Montague County was second with 16.
Other roads in Texas with a page
All fatal crashes in Texas, with every road ranked.
Where the US 81 numbers come from
Counted from NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2024 Annual Report File: every fatal crash whose road NHTSA filed as US 81 in Texas (filed under 8 spellings, such as "US-81", "US-81 / 287", "US-81 287", "US-81 US-287"). 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.