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

Car accident deaths in Smith County by year

Car accident deaths rose from 54 in 2020 to 59 in 2021, fell to 50 in 2022, and rose to 65 in 2023. The count then fell to 45 in 2024. The highest count was in 2023 and the lowest in 2024. Comparing the endpoints, the 2024 count was 9 deaths lower than the 2020 count.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

All traffic deaths numbered 57 in 2020, 63 in 2021, 54 in 2022, 72 in 2023 and 53 in 2024. The share attributed to car accidents declined each year: 94.7% in 2020, 93.7% in 2021, 92.6% in 2022, 90.3% in 2023 and 84.9% in 2024. These shares use each year's all-traffic death count.^{[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 Smith County car accidents

People in cars, SUVs, pickups or vans accounted for 203 deaths, or 74.4% of car accident deaths during 2020 through 2024. This was the largest person category. People in other vehicles accounted for 31 deaths, or 11.4%, the smallest category. Nonoccupants (FARS person-type grouping) accounted for 39 deaths, or 14.3%.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

Each category counts deaths in crashes involving a passenger vehicle. Nonoccupants (FARS person-type grouping) follows the FARS classification rather than a literal test of position inside or outside a vehicle. Its classification can include occupants of parked motor vehicles.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

How the fatal car crashes happened

By manner of collision, Angle (side impact) accounted for 76 car accident deaths, or 27.8%; Head-on for 48, or 17.6%; Rear-end for 29, or 10.6%; and Sideswipe for 6, or 2.2%. Other accounted for 3 deaths, or 1.1%.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

The largest row, Not a collision with a motor vehicle in transport, recorded 111 deaths, or 40.7%. It describes the first harmful event, which can involve a parked vehicle, fixed object, pedestrian, cyclist or rollover rather than a collision between motor vehicles in transport. 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

Daytime, from 6 a.m. to 5:59 p.m., accounted for 136 car accident deaths, or 49.8%, during 2020 through 2024. Nighttime, from 6 p.m. to 5:59 a.m., accounted for 137 deaths, or 50.2%. These are death counts grouped by the time of the crash.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

The urban classification recorded 150 deaths, or 54.9%, while the rural classification recorded 123 deaths, or 45.1%. Separately, car accident deaths in crashes that also involved a large truck numbered 39, representing 14.3%. The large-truck figure counts deaths in those crashes, rather than the number of trucks or crashes.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

Car accident death rate compared with Texas and the United States

Smith County's car accident death rate was 22.6 average annual deaths per 100,000 residents for 2020 through 2024. The Texas rate was 12.1, and the United States rate was 10.5. Smith County's rate was higher than each. Gregg County, the listed neighboring county, had a rate of 18.7, also lower than Smith County's.^{[1][2][3][4][5][6]}

These rates divide deaths during the period by the sum of annual Census population estimates and multiply by 100,000. They do not adjust for miles driven or visitors. The corresponding death counts were 273 for Smith County, 18,234 for Texas, 176,219 for the United States and 117 for Gregg County. Counts and population-based rates are distinct measures.^{[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 Smith County, of any vehicle type, rather than only car accident crashes. Shares use all traffic deaths: Speeding-related, 89 deaths (29.8%); Roadway departure, 137 (45.8%); At an intersection, 83 (27.8%); Pedestrian involved, 45 (15.1%); Motorcycle involved, 41 (13.7%); Hit-and-run, 15 (5.0%); Driver distraction reported, 15 (5.0%); and In a work zone, 3 (1.0%).^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

A crash can have several recorded characteristics, so these rows overlap and cannot be added into a total. They describe recorded characteristics, not findings of fault or cause. Roadway departure had the largest death count among the listed characteristics.^{[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 residence. Readers searching for a car accident lawyer should retain that location distinction when reading these counts.^[8][6][7]

The 2020 through 2023 records are Final Files; 2024 uses the revisable Annual Report File. Rates use summed annual Census Bureau population estimates from Vintage 2025, rather than the separate July 1, 2024 estimate of 249,529. Dividing period deaths by that sum and multiplying by 100,000 gives average annual deaths per 100,000 residents, without adjustment for miles driven or visitors.^[8][6][7]

See also

• Texas car accident statistics (2020-2024)