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

Car accident deaths in Hidalgo County by year

Annual car accident deaths rose from 42 in 2020 to 65 in 2021, then to 66 in 2022 and 77 in 2023. The count fell to 57 in 2024. Across these years, 2023 had the highest count and 2020 had the lowest. The 2024 count was 15 deaths higher than the 2020 count.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

All traffic deaths followed the same yearly direction: 47 in 2020, 71 in 2021, 76 in 2022, 84 in 2023 and 62 in 2024. The car accident share was 89.4%, 91.5%, 86.8%, 91.7% and 91.9%, respectively. That share was highest in 2024 and lowest in 2022, even though the highest death count occurred in 2023.^{[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 Hidalgo County car accidents

People in cars, SUVs, pickups or vans accounted for 212 deaths, or 69.1% of car accident deaths during 2020 through 2024. This was the largest person category. People in other vehicles accounted for 14 deaths, or 4.6%, the smallest category. Nonoccupants (FARS person-type grouping) accounted for 81 deaths, or 26.4%.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

These categories describe everyone killed in the selected passenger-vehicle-involved crashes, rather than only passenger vehicle occupants. Nonoccupants (FARS person-type grouping) follows FARS person classifications and is not a literal test of whether someone was outside a vehicle.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

How the fatal car crashes happened

Manner of collision classifies the first harmful event. Angle (side impact) accounted for 61 car accident deaths, or 19.9%; Head-on for 40, or 13.0%; Rear-end for 29, or 9.4%; and Sideswipe for 6, or 2.0%. Other accounted for 4 deaths, or 1.3%.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

Not a collision with a motor vehicle in transport accounted for 167 deaths, or 54.4%. This means 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; the classification does not depend on whether it was physically moving.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

Time of day and setting

Daytime (6 a.m. to 5:59 p.m.) accounted for 95 car accident deaths, or 30.9%, during 2020 through 2024. Nighttime (6 p.m. to 5:59 a.m.) accounted for 212 deaths, or 69.1%. Nighttime had the larger death count.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

The urban classification accounted for 287 deaths, or 93.5%, while the rural classification accounted for 20 deaths, or 6.5%. These classifications describe crash locations. Crashes that also involved a large truck accounted for 27 car accident deaths, or 8.8%. That figure counts deaths in passenger-vehicle-involved crashes that also involved a large truck.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

Car accident death rate compared with Texas and the United States

Hidalgo County's car accident death rate was 6.9 average annual deaths per 100,000 residents for 2020 through 2024. The corresponding Texas rate was 12.1, and the national rate was 10.5. Cameron County, Texas, the listed neighboring county, had a rate of 7.8. Hidalgo County's rate was lower than each of these comparison rates.^{[1][2][3][4][5][6]}

The rates use deaths divided by the sum of annual Census Bureau population estimates, multiplied by 100,000. They do not adjust for miles driven or visitors. The county's 913,612 population estimate for 2024 is shown separately; it is not the denominator used for this rate. The death counts are assigned by crash location, not residence.^{[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

These characteristics cover all fatal crashes in Hidalgo County, of any vehicle type, rather than only car accidents. Shares use all traffic deaths: Speeding-related recorded 124 deaths (36.5%); Roadway departure, 136 (40.0%); At an intersection, 92 (27.1%); Pedestrian involved, 83 (24.4%); Motorcycle involved, 27 (7.9%); Hit-and-run, 37 (10.9%); Driver distraction reported, 16 (4.7%); and In a work zone, 19 (5.6%).^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

Roadway departure had the largest listed share, while Driver distraction reported had the smallest. A crash can have several recorded characteristics, so the rows overlap and do not add to 100%. These are 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 NHTSA's 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. For readers searching for a car accident lawyer, these counts are grouped by crash county, not where those killed lived.^[8][6][7]

Data for 2020 through 2023 use FARS Final Files; 2024 uses the Annual Report File and remains subject to revision. Rates divide deaths by summed annual Census Bureau population estimates, Vintage 2025, and multiply by 100,000 to give average annual deaths per 100,000 residents. They do not adjust for mileage or visitors. The separate July 1, 2024 population estimate is not the rate denominator.^[8][6][7]

See also

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