TYLER, Texas — The Texas Department of Transportation has released the total number of fatal crashes that occurred within the Tyler district in 2023.
According to TxDOT, factors like “unsafe speed," “failure to drive in a single lane” and “alcohol-related DUI” contributed to 184 fatal crashes and 209 deaths in the Tyler district.
The Tyler district, which consists of Anderson, Cherokee, Gregg, Henderson, Rusk, Smith, Van Zandt and Wood counties, revealed the top five factors that contributed to fatal crashes for the year:
- Unsafe speed - 36 fatal crashes
- Failed to drive in a single lane – 32 fatal crashes
- DUI (alcohol) – 27 fatal crashes
- Pedestrian failed to yield right-of-way to vehicle – 21 fatal crashes
- Wrong side, not passing – 17 fatal crashes
“The eight counties of the Tyler District continue to experience one of the highest fatality rates in the state," said Tyler District engineer Vernon Webb. "We experienced our worst year on record, in terms of number of fatalities, with 209 in 2023. The trends have not changed. Most of the fatality crashes are occurring in the rural areas on our two-lane roadways. Many involving single vehicles that leave the roadway. 58 of the fatalities in 2023 involved unrestrained passengers. If seatbelts had been utilized, many of those 58 would still be here today. This is something we must continue to discuss and share throughout our communities. These trends must end.”
The data in these reports represents the number of crashes that had at least one driver reported as having the indicated contributing factor. Crashes can have none or multiple contributing factors. Therefore, the total number of crashes for these reports will not equal the total number of crashes in the Tyler district.