Fatal crashes in Harris County, Texas
In 2024, 583 people died in 551 fatal crashes in Harris County, Texas, 8.6% more than in 2023. From 2015 to 2024 the county recorded 4,571 fatal crashes and 4,851 deaths, the most of any county in Texas.
11.6 deaths per 100,000 residents, against 13.3 across Texas in 2024; 10.2 against 13.6 a year over 2015 to 2024. Population 5,009,302, Census Bureau estimate. All fatal crashes in Texas.
Deaths in Harris County by year
| Year | Fatal crashes | Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 551 | 583 |
| 2023 | 505 | 537 |
| 2022 | 527 | 558 |
| 2021 | 540 | 576 |
| 2020 | 457 | 492 |
| 2019 | 399 | 421 |
| 2018 | 365 | 388 |
| 2017 | 433 | 458 |
| 2016 | 427 | 447 |
| 2015 | 367 | 391 |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
The deadliest roads in Harris County
I-45 had the most fatal crashes of any numbered road in Harris County from 2015 to 2024: 321, with 338 deaths. The 15 roads listed held 28% of all fatal crashes in Harris County from 2015 to 2024; 4 are interstates, 3 US routes, 8 state highways. 29% of the county's fatal crashes were on an interstate, US or state route; the other 71% were on county roads and city streets. Routes are listed from 5 fatal crashes.
| Road | Fatal crashes | Deaths | 2022 to 2024 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | I-45 | 321 | 338 | 106 | |
| 2 | I-10 | 230 | 243 | 82 | |
| 3 | I-69 | 168 | 179 | 56 | |
| 4 | State Highway 249 | 103 | 113 | 24 | |
| 5 | State Highway 6 | 78 | 82 | 28 | |
| 6 | I-610 | 70 | 74 | 20 | |
| 7 | US 290 | 54 | 61 | 14 | |
| 8 | US 90 | 51 | 54 | 20 | |
| 9 | State Highway 99 | 49 | 52 | 21 | |
| 10 | State Highway 288 | 35 | 40 | 13 | |
| 11 | State Highway 146 | 32 | 34 | 7 | |
| 12 | US 59 | 28 | 28 | 2 | |
| 13 | State Highway 8 | 27 | 28 | 13 | |
| 14 | State Highway 225 | 26 | 29 | 11 | no page |
| 15 | State Highway 3 | 20 | 21 | 5 | no page |
Houston had 52% of the county's fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024, 2,383 of 4,571.
Cities NHTSA filed, with their fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024: Houston 2,383, Baytown 99, Pasadena 86, La Porte 31, Humble 26, Tomball 19, Webster 17, Seabrook 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 Harris County
The heaviest slot is Sunday, midnight to 4 am (the night from Saturday), with 298 fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024. The worst hour is 2 am to 3 am; the worst month is October.
| Midnight to 4 | 4 to 8 am | 8 to noon | Noon to 4 | 4 to 8 pm | 8 to midnight | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun | 6.5 percent, 298 fatal crashes | 3.2 percent, 148 fatal crashes | 1.1 percent, 48 fatal crashes | 1.5 percent, 69 fatal crashes | 2.8 percent, 126 fatal crashes | 4.1 percent, 188 fatal crashes |
| Mon | 2.9 percent, 131 fatal crashes | 2.0 percent, 92 fatal crashes | 1.2 percent, 57 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 83 fatal crashes | 2.3 percent, 105 fatal crashes | 2.7 percent, 124 fatal crashes |
| Tue | 1.6 percent, 75 fatal crashes | 1.7 percent, 78 fatal crashes | 1.3 percent, 60 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 83 fatal crashes | 2.0 percent, 92 fatal crashes | 2.8 percent, 126 fatal crashes |
| Wed | 1.6 percent, 71 fatal crashes | 1.7 percent, 77 fatal crashes | 1.2 percent, 55 fatal crashes | 1.4 percent, 62 fatal crashes | 2.3 percent, 104 fatal crashes | 3.2 percent, 146 fatal crashes |
| Thu | 2.2 percent, 100 fatal crashes | 1.9 percent, 87 fatal crashes | 1.1 percent, 52 fatal crashes | 1.4 percent, 66 fatal crashes | 2.0 percent, 92 fatal crashes | 3.2 percent, 146 fatal crashes |
| Fri | 3.5 percent, 160 fatal crashes | 2.0 percent, 90 fatal crashes | 1.1 percent, 48 fatal crashes | 1.4 percent, 65 fatal crashes | 2.6 percent, 117 fatal crashes | 4.0 percent, 181 fatal crashes |
| Sat | 5.8 percent, 263 fatal crashes | 2.2 percent, 99 fatal crashes | 1.3 percent, 59 fatal crashes | 1.6 percent, 74 fatal crashes | 3.3 percent, 149 fatal crashes | 4.9 percent, 225 fatal crashes |
By hour
By month
- Jan8.9%
- Feb6.8%
- Mar8.4%
- Apr8.7%
- May8.2%
- Jun8.0%
- Jul7.4%
- Aug8.6%
- Sep7.7%
- Oct9.8%
- Nov8.4%
- Dec9.1%
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
What fatal crashes in Harris County first hit
The first harmful event was a collision with another vehicle in 36%; a pedestrian in 27%, a fixed object such as a tree, pole or barrier in 25%, a cyclist in 3.7%.
| First harmful event | Fatal crashes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Collision with another vehicle | 1,647 | 36% |
| Pedestrian | 1,238 | 27% |
| Fixed object (tree, pole, barrier, ditch) | 1,146 | 25% |
| Other | 202 | 4.4% |
| Cyclist | 169 | 3.7% |
| Rollover | 118 | 2.6% |
| Parked vehicle | 51 | 1.1% |
| 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 Harris County compare with Texas
The largest difference from Texas: from 2015 to 2024, 3.4% of fatal crashes in Harris County were on rural roads, against 38% across Texas. Also above the Texas share: intersections, drinking drivers, unbelted occupants, hit-and-runs and pedestrians. Below it: unlit roads at night, speeding and distracted drivers. 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 4,571 crashes.
| Harris | Texas | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| On rural roads | 3.4% | 38% | below the Texas share |
| At or near an intersection | 26% | 22% | above the Texas share |
| In the dark, road unlit | 24% | 31% | below the Texas share |
| A drinking driver | 31% | 26% | above the Texas share |
| Speeding | 30% | 32% | below the Texas share |
| A distracted driver (as recorded) | 4.0% | 10% | below the Texas share |
| Occupants killed unbelted | 52% | 45% | above the Texas share |
| Hit-and-run | 16% | 7.6% | above the Texas share |
| A motorcycle involved | 15% | 14% | about the same as the Texas share |
| Pedestrians among the dead | 28% | 18% | above 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 Harris County, Texas
- How many people died in car accidents in Harris County in 2024?
- 583 people died in 551 fatal crashes in Harris County, Texas, in 2024, 8.6% more than in 2023. That is 11.6 deaths per 100,000 residents, against 13.3 across Texas. Source: NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS).
- What is the deadliest road in Harris County?
- I-45 had the most fatal crashes of any numbered road in Harris County from 2015 to 2024: 321, with 338 deaths.
- When do fatal crashes in Harris County happen most often?
- The heaviest slot from 2015 to 2024 was Sunday, midnight to 4 am (the night from Saturday), with 298 fatal crashes.
- How many fatal crashes in Harris County involved a drinking driver?
- 1,415 of 4,571 fatal crashes in Harris County from 2015 to 2024 involved a driver NHTSA recorded as drinking, 31%, against 26% across Texas.
Other counties in Texas with a page
- Dallas County
- Bexar County
- Tarrant County
- Travis County
- El Paso County
- Hidalgo County
- Montgomery County
- Collin County
- Smith County
- Denton County
- Bell County
- Lubbock County
All fatal crashes in Texas, with every county ranked.
Where the Harris County numbers come from
Counted from NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2024 Annual Report File: every fatal crash NHTSA filed in Harris County (county code 201). 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/harris-county/, from NHTSA FARS (2024 Annual Report File).”