US 81 in Texas: fatal crashes
From 2015 to 2024, 69 fatal crashes on US 81 in Texas killed 82 people. In 2024 there were 15 fatal crashes and 21 deaths on the road.
An 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 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 in 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
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 | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 1.4 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 1.4 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 1.4 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 5.8 percent, 4 fatal crashes |
| Mon | 1.4 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 1.4 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 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 crashes |
| Wed | 2.9 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.4 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 1.4 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 4.3 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 1.4 percent, 1 fatal crashes |
| Thu | 1.4 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 5.8 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.4 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 5.8 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 1.4 percent, 1 fatal crashes |
| Fri | 2.9 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 4.3 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 1.4 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 1.4 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 1.4 percent, 1 fatal crashes |
| Sat | 4.3 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 5.8 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 1.4 percent, 1 fatal crashes | 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
A drinking driver was recorded in 26% of fatal crashes in US 81 in Texas from 2015 to 2024, about the Texas share; speeding in 26%, below the Texas share of 32%; a hit-and-run in 0.0%, below the Texas share of 7.6%; a driver recorded as distracted in 17%, above the Texas share of 10%; 29% 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.
| US 81 | Texas | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| On rural stretches | 71% | 38% | above the Texas share |
| At or near an intersection | 17% | 22% | below 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% | below the Texas share |
| A distracted driver (as recorded) | 17% | 10% | above 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% | below 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 in 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.
- 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. A fatal crash is one in which someone died within 30 days. The full method.