I-40 in Texas: fatal crashes
From 2015 to 2024, 102 fatal crashes on I-40 in Texas killed 135 people. In 2024 there were 11 fatal crashes and 17 deaths on the road.
An interstate running through 7 counties of Texas. All fatal crashes in Texas. I-40 in every state.
Deaths on I-40 in Texas by year
| Year | Fatal crashes | Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 11 | 17 |
| 2023 | 10 | 11 |
| 2022 | 12 | 20 |
| 2021 | 4 | 4 |
| 2020 | 14 | 15 |
| 2019 | 11 | 15 |
| 2018 | 5 | 6 |
| 2017 | 12 | 18 |
| 2016 | 15 | 17 |
| 2015 | 8 | 12 |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
Where on I-40 in Texas: the counties with the most fatal crashes
Potter County had the most fatal crashes on I-40 from 2015 to 2024: 29, with 35 deaths. Potter, Oldham and Carson counties together held 71% of fatal crashes in I-40 in Texas from 2015 to 2024; the 5 listed held 98%. Counties are listed from 5 fatal crashes.
| County | 2024 | 2015 to 2024 | Deaths | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Potter County | 3 | 29 | 35 |
| 2 | Oldham County | 5 | 24 | 37 |
| 3 | Carson County | 2 | 19 | 26 |
| 4 | Wheeler County | 1 | 16 | 20 |
| 5 | Gray County | 0 | 12 | 14 |
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 I-40 in Texas
Too few crashes to name a heaviest slot. The grid shows the shares; a share is only given over 20 crashes.
| Midnight to 4 | 4 to 8 am | 8 to noon | Noon to 4 | 4 to 8 pm | 8 to midnight | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun | 4.9 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 2.0 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 2.0 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 2.0 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 3.9 percent, 4 fatal crashes |
| Mon | 2.9 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 2.0 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 3.9 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 3.9 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 3 fatal crashes |
| Tue | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 2.0 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 2.0 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.0 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 3 fatal crashes |
| Wed | 2.0 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.0 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 3.9 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 2.0 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.0 percent, 1 fatal crashes |
| Thu | 1.0 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 1.0 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 1.0 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 1.0 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 3.9 percent, 4 fatal crashes |
| Fri | 5.9 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 1.0 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 2.0 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 3.9 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 3 fatal crashes |
| Sat | 2.0 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.0 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 6.9 percent, 7 fatal crashes | 3.9 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 1.0 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 2.0 percent, 2 fatal crashes |
By hour
By month
- Jan2.9%
- Feb8.8%
- Mar7.8%
- Apr7.8%
- May10.8%
- Jun11.8%
- Jul10.8%
- Aug7.8%
- Sep7.8%
- Oct7.8%
- Nov5.9%
- Dec9.8%
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
Fatal crashes per mile on I-40 in Texas
5.76 fatal crashes a year per 100 miles over 2015 to 2024, on 177 miles of I-40 in Texas, against 15.77 for all interstates in Texas. That ranks 11 of 11 interstates in Texas and 122 of 171 interstate pages on this site.
Mileage from the FHWA Interstate route log (table 1), the only figure here not counted from FARS. Crashes per mile of road, not per vehicle: FARS records crashes, not traffic.
What fatal crashes on I-40 in Texas first hit
The first harmful event was a collision with another vehicle in 50%; a rollover in 19%, a fixed object such as a tree, pole or barrier in 13%, a pedestrian in 12%.
| First harmful event | Fatal crashes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Collision with another vehicle | 51 | 50% |
| Rollover | 19 | 19% |
| Fixed object (tree, pole, barrier, ditch) | 13 | 13% |
| Pedestrian | 12 | 12% |
| Parked vehicle | 4 | 3.9% |
| Other | 2 | 2.0% |
| Cyclist | 1 | 1.0% |
| 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 I-40 in Texas compare with the state
A drinking driver was recorded in 9.8% of fatal crashes in I-40 in Texas from 2015 to 2024, below the Texas share of 26%; speeding in 28%, below the Texas share of 32%; a hit-and-run in 4.9%, below the Texas share of 7.6%; a driver recorded as distracted in 11%, about the Texas share; 33% of passenger-vehicle occupants killed with belt use known were unbelted, below the Texas share of 45%. Shares of fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024, against the share across all of Texas. A share is only given over 20 crashes.
| I-40 | Texas | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| On rural stretches | 78% | 38% | above the Texas share |
| At or near an intersection | 4.9% | 22% | below the Texas share |
| In the dark, road unlit | 38% | 31% | above the Texas share |
| A drinking driver | 9.8% | 26% | below the Texas share |
| Speeding | 28% | 32% | below the Texas share |
| A distracted driver (as recorded) | 11% | 10% | about the same as the Texas share |
| Occupants killed unbelted | 33% | 45% | below the Texas share |
| Hit-and-run | 4.9% | 7.6% | below the Texas share |
| A motorcycle involved | 8.8% | 14% | below the Texas share |
| Pedestrians among the dead | 12% | 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 in I-40 in Texas
- How many fatal crashes have there been on I-40 in Texas?
- 102 fatal crashes killed 135 people on I-40 in Texas from 2015 to 2024. In 2024 there were 11 fatal crashes and 17 deaths.
- Where on I-40 in Texas do the most fatal crashes happen?
- Potter County had the most fatal crashes on I-40 from 2015 to 2024: 29, with 35 deaths. Oldham County was second with 24.
- How dangerous is I-40 in Texas per mile?
- 5.76 fatal crashes a year per 100 miles over 2015 to 2024, on 177 miles of road, against 15.77 for all interstates in Texas. That ranks 11 of 11 interstates in Texas and 122 of 171 interstate pages on this site. FARS records crashes, not traffic, so this is crashes per mile of road, not per vehicle.
Other roads in Texas with a page
All fatal crashes in Texas, with every road ranked.
Where the I-40 numbers come from
Counted from NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2024 Annual Report File: every fatal crash whose road NHTSA filed as I-40 in Texas (filed under 4 spellings, such as "I-40", "I-40 E", "I-40 I", "I-40/OLD ROUTE 66"). Ramps, frontage and service roads are left out. A fatal crash is one in which someone died within 30 days. The full method.