Fatal crashes in Bell County, Texas
In 2024, 63 people died in 54 fatal crashes in Bell County, Texas, 8.6% more than in 2023. From 2015 to 2024 the county recorded 445 fatal crashes and 482 deaths, the 12th most of 254 counties in Texas.
15.8 deaths per 100,000 residents, against 13.3 across Texas in 2024; 13.1 against 13.6 a year over 2015 to 2024. Population 399,578, Census Bureau estimate. All fatal crashes in Texas.
Deaths in Bell County by year
| Year | Fatal crashes | Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 54 | 63 |
| 2023 | 53 | 58 |
| 2022 | 50 | 55 |
| 2021 | 42 | 43 |
| 2020 | 48 | 49 |
| 2019 | 39 | 44 |
| 2018 | 29 | 31 |
| 2017 | 52 | 57 |
| 2016 | 39 | 42 |
| 2015 | 39 | 40 |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
The deadliest roads in Bell County
I-35 had the most fatal crashes of any numbered road in Bell County from 2015 to 2024: 62, with 66 deaths. The 10 roads listed held 49% of all fatal crashes in Bell County from 2015 to 2024; 2 are interstates, 2 US routes, 6 state highways. 51% of the county's fatal crashes were on an interstate, US or state route; the other 49% were on county roads and city streets. Routes are listed from 5 fatal crashes.
| Road | Fatal crashes | Deaths | 2022 to 2024 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | I-35 | 62 | 66 | 24 | |
| 2 | I-14 | 43 | 48 | 14 | |
| 3 | US 190 | 28 | 31 | 7 | |
| 4 | State Highway 195 | 25 | 29 | 7 | no page |
| 5 | State Highway 317 | 13 | 14 | 6 | no page |
| 6 | State Highway 95 | 13 | 13 | 5 | |
| 7 | State Highway 36 | 11 | 12 | 3 | |
| 8 | State Highway 53 | 11 | 11 | 3 | no page |
| 9 | US 190F | 6 | 7 | 4 | no page |
| 10 | State Highway 201 | 5 | 5 | 3 | no page |
Killeen had 25% of the county's fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024, 110 of 445.
Cities NHTSA filed, with their fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024: Killeen 110, Temple 83, Belton 33, Nolanville 17, Harker Heights 16, Troy 12. The city is not filed for crashes outside a city.
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
When fatal crashes happen in Bell County
The heaviest slot is Sunday, midnight to 4 am (the night from Saturday), with 26 fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024. The worst hour is midnight to 1 am; 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 | 5.8 percent, 26 fatal crashes | 1.3 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 0.7 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 0.9 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 2.2 percent, 10 fatal crashes | 3.1 percent, 14 fatal crashes |
| Mon | 2.2 percent, 10 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 8 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 8 fatal crashes | 2.2 percent, 10 fatal crashes | 3.6 percent, 16 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 8 fatal crashes |
| Tue | 1.1 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 13 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 8 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 8 fatal crashes | 1.3 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 8 fatal crashes |
| Wed | 1.3 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 1.1 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 2.2 percent, 10 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 13 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 13 fatal crashes | 2.2 percent, 10 fatal crashes |
| Thu | 1.8 percent, 8 fatal crashes | 2.2 percent, 10 fatal crashes | 1.6 percent, 7 fatal crashes | 2.2 percent, 10 fatal crashes | 3.1 percent, 14 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 13 fatal crashes |
| Fri | 2.7 percent, 12 fatal crashes | 3.4 percent, 15 fatal crashes | 1.6 percent, 7 fatal crashes | 1.6 percent, 7 fatal crashes | 3.1 percent, 14 fatal crashes | 4.9 percent, 22 fatal crashes |
| Sat | 5.6 percent, 25 fatal crashes | 2.5 percent, 11 fatal crashes | 1.3 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 13 fatal crashes | 2.7 percent, 12 fatal crashes | 2.5 percent, 11 fatal crashes |
By hour
By month
- Jan6.1%
- Feb6.1%
- Mar8.1%
- Apr6.5%
- May7.9%
- Jun8.5%
- Jul9.7%
- Aug9.7%
- Sep8.1%
- Oct9.9%
- Nov11.0%
- Dec8.5%
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
What fatal crashes in Bell County first hit
The first harmful event was a collision with another vehicle in 40%; a fixed object such as a tree, pole or barrier in 23%, a pedestrian in 19%, a rollover in 6.1%.
| First harmful event | Fatal crashes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Collision with another vehicle | 179 | 40% |
| Fixed object (tree, pole, barrier, ditch) | 102 | 23% |
| Pedestrian | 83 | 19% |
| Other | 31 | 7.0% |
| Rollover | 27 | 6.1% |
| Parked vehicle | 13 | 2.9% |
| Cyclist | 10 | 2.2% |
| 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 in Bell County compare with Texas
The largest difference from Texas: from 2015 to 2024, 30% of fatal crashes in Bell County were on rural roads, against 38% across Texas. Also above the Texas share: unlit roads at night and motorcycles. Below it: 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 445 crashes.
| Bell | Texas | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| On rural roads | 30% | 38% | below 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 | 26% | 26% | about the same as the Texas share |
| Speeding | 35% | 32% | about the same as the Texas share |
| A distracted driver (as recorded) | 8.8% | 10% | about the same as the Texas share |
| Occupants killed unbelted | 38% | 45% | below the Texas share |
| Hit-and-run | 5.8% | 7.6% | about the same as the Texas share |
| A motorcycle involved | 18% | 14% | above the Texas share |
| Pedestrians among the dead | 18% | 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 in Bell County, Texas
- How many people died in car accidents in Bell County in 2024?
- 63 people died in 54 fatal crashes in Bell County, Texas, in 2024, 8.6% more than in 2023. That is 15.8 deaths per 100,000 residents, against 13.3 across Texas. Source: NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS).
- What is the deadliest road in Bell County?
- I-35 had the most fatal crashes of any numbered road in Bell County from 2015 to 2024: 62, with 66 deaths.
- When do fatal crashes in Bell County happen most often?
- The heaviest slot from 2015 to 2024 was Sunday, midnight to 4 am (the night from Saturday), with 26 fatal crashes.
- How many fatal crashes in Bell County involved a drinking driver?
- 115 of 445 fatal crashes in Bell County from 2015 to 2024 involved a driver NHTSA recorded as drinking, 26%, against 26% across Texas.
Other counties in Texas with a page
- Harris County
- Dallas County
- Bexar County
- Tarrant County
- Travis County
- El Paso County
- Hidalgo County
- Montgomery County
- Collin County
- Smith County
- Denton County
- Lubbock County
All fatal crashes in Texas, with every county ranked.
Where the Bell County numbers come from
Counted from NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2024 Annual Report File: every fatal crash NHTSA filed in Bell County (county code 27). A fatal crash is one in which someone died within 30 days. The rate per 100,000 uses the Census Bureau's population estimate for the county; it is the only figure here not counted from FARS. Totals from state highway departments and news reports can differ: they count from their own crash reports, often before every death within 30 days is known, while NHTSA's file is checked against death certificates and revised once a year. The full method.
Download every county with a page as CSV. Free to reuse with credit: “Fatal Crash Data, fatalcrashdata.com/fatal-crashes/texas/bell-county/, from NHTSA FARS (2024 Annual Report File).”