Car accident statistics for Bell County, Texas (2020-2024)

Car accident deaths in Bell County by year

Car accident deaths fell from 37 in 2020 to 34 in 2021, then rose to 51 in 2022, 52 in 2023 and 56 in 2024. The highest count was in 2024, while 2021 had the lowest count. The 2024 count was 19 deaths higher than the 2020 count.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

All traffic deaths followed the same direction of change: 49 in 2020, 43 in 2021, 55 in 2022, 58 in 2023 and 63 in 2024. The share attributed to car accidents was 75.5%, 79.1%, 92.7%, 89.7% and 88.9%, respectively. That share was highest in 2022, even though the highest death count occurred in 2024.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

Deaths within 30 days in crashes on public roads. 2024 figures come from the FARS Annual Report File and can be revised.

Who died in Bell County car accidents

People in cars, SUVs, pickups or vans accounted for 168 deaths, or 73.0% of car accident deaths in Bell County during 2020 through 2024. This was the largest person category. People in other vehicles accounted for 22 deaths, or 9.6%, and were the smallest category. Nonoccupants (FARS person-type grouping) accounted for 40 deaths, or 17.4%.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

These labels classify the people killed in the selected passenger-vehicle-involved crashes. Nonoccupants (FARS person-type grouping) follows the FARS classification; it is not a literal test of whether someone was outside a vehicle.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

How the fatal car crashes happened

Among car accident deaths, Angle (side impact) accounted for 43 deaths, or 18.7%; Head-on for 35, or 15.2%; Rear-end for 31, or 13.5%; and Sideswipe for 4, or 1.7%. Not a collision with a motor vehicle in transport accounted for 117 deaths, or 50.9%.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

Manner of collision describes the first harmful event. The latter row means that event was not a collision between motor vehicles in transport. Examples include striking a pedestrian, cyclist, parked vehicle or fixed object, or a rollover. A motor vehicle in transport can be stopped in traffic, so this classification does not test whether another vehicle was physically moving.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

Time of day and setting

Nighttime, defined as 6 p.m. to 5:59 a.m., accounted for 132 car accident deaths, or 57.4%, during 2020 through 2024. Daytime, from 6 a.m. to 5:59 p.m., accounted for 98 deaths, or 42.6%. The nighttime count was higher than the daytime count.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

The urban classification recorded 165 deaths, or 71.7%, while the rural classification recorded 65 deaths, or 28.3%. Separately, crashes that also involved a large truck accounted for 28 car accident deaths, or 12.2%. That figure counts deaths in the selected crashes involving a large truck, rather than the number of trucks or crashes.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

Car accident death rate compared with Texas and the United States

Bell County's car accident death rate was 11.9 average annual deaths per 100,000 residents for 2020 through 2024. The Texas rate was 12.1, and the national rate was 10.5. Bell County's rate was lower than the state rate and higher than the national rate.^{[1][2][3][4][5][6]}

Among the listed neighboring counties, McLennan County had a rate of 10.9 and Williamson County had a rate of 6.9. Bell County's rate was higher than each of those rates. The calculation uses deaths divided by the sum of annual Census population estimates, multiplied by 100,000. It does not adjust for miles driven or visitors, and the deaths are assigned by crash location.^{[1][2][3][4][5][6]}

Rates divide deaths by the sum of annual Census population estimates, so they show deaths per 100,000 residents per year. They do not adjust for miles driven or for visitors.

Recorded characteristics of all fatal crashes

Recorded characteristics cover all fatal crashes in Bell County, of any vehicle type, rather than only car accidents. Shares of all traffic deaths were 39.9% for Speeding-related, 42.9% for Roadway departure, 22.4% for At an intersection, 16.8% for Pedestrian involved and 16.8% for Motorcycle involved.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

Hit-and-run accounted for 4.9%, Driver distraction reported for 9.0% and In a work zone for 7.5%. Roadway departure had the largest listed share; Hit-and-run had the smallest. A crash can have several recorded characteristics, so the rows overlap. These classifications are not findings of fault or cause.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

A crash can carry several characteristics, so the rows overlap and do not add to 100%. These are recorded characteristics, not findings of fault.

About these figures

FARS is a census of fatal motor vehicle traffic crashes. Inclusion requires a motor vehicle traveling on a trafficway customarily open to the public and a death within 30 days. Nonfatal crashes and injuries are excluded. Counts follow crash location, not where those killed lived. For readers searching for a car accident lawyer, that location rule applies to these counts.^[8][6][7]

The 2020 through 2023 records are Final Files; 2024 uses the revisable Annual Report File. Rates divide period deaths by summed annual Census Bureau population estimates, Vintage 2025, and multiply by 100,000. The separately shown July 1, 2024 estimate is not the denominator. Rates express average annual deaths per 100,000 residents without adjustments for miles driven or visitors.^[8][6][7]

See also

• Car accident statistics for Williamson County, Texas (2020-2024)
• Texas car accident statistics (2020-2024)