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

Car accident deaths in Cameron County by year

Deaths in car accidents increased each year: 28 in 2020, 30 in 2021, 35 in 2022, 36 in 2023 and 37 in 2024. The highest count was 37 in 2024, and the lowest was 28 in 2020. The 2024 count was 9 deaths higher than the 2020 count.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

All traffic deaths followed a different sequence, from 28 in 2020 to 34 in 2021, 36 in 2022 and 41 in both 2023 and 2024. The car accident share of those deaths was 100.0%, 88.2%, 97.2%, 87.8% and 90.2%, respectively. Thus, the annual death count rose throughout the period, while its share of all traffic deaths changed direction between years.^{[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 Cameron County car accidents

People in cars, SUVs, pickups or vans accounted for 105 deaths, or 63.3% of car accident deaths during 2020 through 2024. This was the largest person category. People in other vehicles accounted for 6 deaths, or 3.6%, the smallest category. Nonoccupants (FARS person-type grouping) accounted for 55 deaths, or 33.1%.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

These labels classify the people killed in the selected passenger-vehicle-involved crashes. The Nonoccupants (FARS person-type grouping) label follows FARS person classifications; it is not a literal test of a person's position relative to a vehicle. All categories use crash location rather than residency.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

How the fatal car crashes happened

Manner of collision classifies the first harmful event. Angle (side impact) recorded 35 deaths, or 21.1%; Head-on, 14, or 8.4%; Rear-end, 9, or 5.4%; and Sideswipe, 4, or 2.4%. Other recorded 1 death, or 0.6%.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

Not a collision with a motor vehicle in transport accounted for 103 car accident deaths, or 62.0%. Here, the first harmful 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; physical movement is not the test.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

Time of day and setting

Nighttime, defined as 6 p.m. to 5:59 a.m., accounted for 91 car accident deaths, or 54.8%, during 2020 through 2024. Daytime, from 6 a.m. to 5:59 p.m., accounted for 75 deaths, or 45.2%. The nighttime count was higher than the daytime count.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

The land-use classification recorded 139 deaths in urban settings, or 83.7%, and 27 in rural settings, or 16.3%. In a separate grouping, car accident deaths in crashes that also involved a large truck numbered 15, or 9.0%. That truck figure counts deaths in the qualifying crashes, rather than a number of trucks or crashes.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

Car accident death rate compared with Texas and the United States

Cameron County's car accident death rate was 7.8 average annual deaths per 100,000 residents for 2020 through 2024. Texas recorded 12.1, and the United States recorded 10.5. The county rate was lower than both. Hidalgo County, the listed neighboring county, recorded 6.9, compared with Cameron County's 7.8.^{[1][2][3][4][5][6]}

These rates divide deaths during the period by the sum of annual Census Bureau population estimates and multiply by 100,000. They do not adjust for miles driven or visitors. Cameron County's 2024 population estimate of 432,952 is shown separately; it is not the denominator used for the rate. The rate therefore expresses average annual deaths relative to the population estimates, while the death count remains 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 Cameron County, of any vehicle type. Shares use all traffic deaths, rather than car accident deaths alone. Speeding-related recorded 67 deaths (37.2%); Roadway departure, 82 (45.6%); At an intersection, 54 (30.0%); and Pedestrian involved, 50 (27.8%).^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

Motorcycle involved recorded 14 deaths (7.8%); Hit-and-run, 14 (7.8%); Driver distraction reported, 12 (6.7%); and In a work zone, 4 (2.2%). A crash can carry several characteristics, so these rows overlap and do not add to 100%. They describe recorded characteristics, 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 identify the county of the crash, not where the people killed lived. For a reader searching for a car accident lawyer, that location rule still defines these counts.^[8][6][7]

The 2020 through 2023 figures use FARS Final Files; 2024 uses the revisable Annual Report File. Rates divide period deaths by summed annual Census population estimates from Vintage 2025 and multiply by 100,000. The separate July 1, 2024 estimate is not the denominator. Rates do not adjust for miles driven or visitors.^[8][6][7]

See also

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