US 87 in Texas: fatal crashes
From 2015 to 2024, 236 fatal crashes on US 87 in Texas killed 286 people, the 16th most of 443 numbered roads in Texas. In 2024 there were 26 fatal crashes and 33 deaths on the road.
A US route running through 28 counties of Texas. All fatal crashes in Texas.
Deaths on US 87 in Texas by year
| Year | Fatal crashes | Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 26 | 33 |
| 2023 | 23 | 32 |
| 2022 | 26 | 32 |
| 2021 | 33 | 36 |
| 2020 | 24 | 27 |
| 2019 | 19 | 23 |
| 2018 | 22 | 26 |
| 2017 | 19 | 23 |
| 2016 | 15 | 17 |
| 2015 | 29 | 37 |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
Where on US 87 in Texas: the counties with the most fatal crashes
Tom Green County had the most fatal crashes on US 87 from 2015 to 2024: 28, with 32 deaths. Tom Green, Victoria and Howard counties together held 28% of fatal crashes on US 87 in Texas from 2015 to 2024; the 15 listed held 84%. Counties are listed from 5 fatal crashes.
| County | 2024 | 2015 to 2024 | Deaths | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tom Green County | 3 | 28 | 32 |
| 2 | Victoria County | 0 | 20 | 22 |
| 3 | Howard County | 1 | 19 | 21 |
| 4 | Wilson County | 0 | 15 | 16 |
| 5 | Lynn County | 2 | 14 | 17 |
| 6 | Bexar County | 2 | 14 | 14 |
| 7 | Gillespie County | 1 | 13 | 20 |
| 8 | Potter County | 3 | 11 | 15 |
| 9 | Lubbock County | 1 | 11 | 13 |
| 10 | Moore County | 2 | 11 | 12 |
| 11 | Dawson County | 1 | 11 | 11 |
| 12 | DeWitt County | 0 | 10 | 11 |
| 13 | McCulloch County | 1 | 8 | 10 |
| 14 | Hartley County | 2 | 7 | 16 |
| 15 | Dallam County | 0 | 7 | 8 |
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 87 in Texas
The heaviest slot is Friday, 4 to 8 pm, with 12 fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024. The worst hour is 6 am to 7 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 | 3.4 percent, 8 fatal crashes | 3.0 percent, 7 fatal crashes | 0.8 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 0.4 percent, 1 fatal crash | 1.7 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 3.0 percent, 7 fatal crashes |
| Mon | 2.5 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 3.4 percent, 8 fatal crashes | 1.3 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 2.5 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 2.5 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 0.8 percent, 2 fatal crashes |
| Tue | 0.4 percent, 1 fatal crash | 2.1 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 0.4 percent, 1 fatal crash | 2.1 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 2.5 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 1.3 percent, 3 fatal crashes |
| Wed | 2.1 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 3.0 percent, 7 fatal crashes | 3.4 percent, 8 fatal crashes | 2.1 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 2.5 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 2.1 percent, 5 fatal crashes |
| Thu | 1.7 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 4.7 percent, 11 fatal crashes | 3.4 percent, 8 fatal crashes | 2.1 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 4.2 percent, 10 fatal crashes | 3.0 percent, 7 fatal crashes |
| Fri | 0.8 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 3.8 percent, 9 fatal crashes | 0.8 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 3.4 percent, 8 fatal crashes | 5.1 percent, 12 fatal crashes | 3.8 percent, 9 fatal crashes |
| Sat | 2.5 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 0.8 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.7 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 2.1 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 2.5 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 3.8 percent, 9 fatal crashes |
By hour
By month
- Jan7.6%
- Feb8.5%
- Mar8.1%
- Apr9.7%
- May9.7%
- Jun8.1%
- Jul4.7%
- Aug8.5%
- Sep8.1%
- Oct8.5%
- Nov10.2%
- 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 on US 87 in Texas first hit
The first harmful event was a collision with another vehicle in most fatal crashes, 55%; a fixed object such as a tree, pole or barrier in 18%, a rollover in 14%, a pedestrian in 10%.
| First harmful event | Fatal crashes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Collision with another vehicle | 129 | 55% |
| Fixed object (tree, pole, barrier, ditch) | 43 | 18% |
| Rollover | 32 | 14% |
| Pedestrian | 24 | 10% |
| Other | 4 | 1.7% |
| Cyclist | 3 | 1.3% |
| Parked vehicle | 1 | 0.4% |
| 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 87 in Texas compare with the state
The largest difference from Texas: from 2015 to 2024, 70% of fatal crashes on US 87 in Texas were on rural roads, against 38% across Texas. Below the Texas share: unbelted occupants, hit-and-runs, motorcycles 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 236 crashes.
| US 87 | Texas | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| On rural stretches | 70% | 38% | above the Texas share |
| At or near an intersection | 27% | 22% | about the same as the Texas share |
| In the dark, road unlit | 37% | 31% | about the same as the Texas share |
| A drinking driver | 21% | 26% | about the same as the Texas share |
| Speeding | 27% | 32% | about the same as the Texas share |
| A distracted driver (as recorded) | 12% | 10% | about the same as the Texas share |
| Occupants killed unbelted | 36% | 45% | below the Texas share |
| Hit-and-run | 2.1% | 7.6% | below the Texas share |
| A motorcycle involved | 8.5% | 14% | below the Texas share |
| Pedestrians among the dead | 9.4% | 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 87 in Texas
- How many fatal crashes have there been on US 87 in Texas?
- 236 fatal crashes killed 286 people on US 87 in Texas from 2015 to 2024. In 2024 there were 26 fatal crashes and 33 deaths. Source: NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS).
- Where on US 87 in Texas do the most fatal crashes happen?
- Tom Green County had the most fatal crashes on US 87 from 2015 to 2024: 28, with 32 deaths. Victoria County was second with 20.
- When do fatal crashes on US 87 in Texas happen most often?
- The heaviest slot from 2015 to 2024 was Friday, 4 to 8 pm, with 12 fatal crashes.
Other roads in Texas with a page
All fatal crashes in Texas, with every road ranked.
Where the US 87 numbers come from
Counted from NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2024 Annual Report File: every fatal crash whose road NHTSA filed as US 87 in Texas (filed under 30 spellings, such as "US-87", "US-87 ABE ST", "US-87 BRYANT BLVD", "US-87 DUMAS DRIVE"). 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.