Texas streets and highways are dangerous places, but intersecting roads represent some of the biggest dangers for drivers. In fact, data from the Texas Department of Transportation (TXDoT)show that there were 1,037 deaths in crashes that occurred near or within intersections in 2021 alone.
As points where one road meets another, intersections pose serious risks for all roadway users, whether they’re on a highway on- or off-ramps or surface streets controlled by signs or traffic signals. In fact, intersection collisions comprise a significant portion of all motor vehicle accidents. They’re also especially dangerous when one or more intersecting roads is a highway or interstate and when there are crosswalks for bicyclists and pedestrians.
Waco Intersection Accidents: What the Numbers Say
While McLennan County motorists may be familiar with some of the most congested and questionable intersections, our team at the Law Offices of Vic Feazell wanted to take a look at the numbers to see which ones were the worst in terms of crashes, injuries, and fatalities.
Using TXDot’s Crash Records Information System (C.R.I.S.) Query system, we were able to search through data of reported intersection-related crashes across McLennan County and Waco. For the purposes of this data, TXDot defines an intersection-related crash as any traffic collision occurring within an intersection or while approaching or exiting an intersection. This includes accidents at intersecting county roads, highways (including on- and off-ramps), service streets, and major thoroughfares.
Here are some of our findings:
- There was a total of 2,258 intersection-related crashes in Waco in 2021.
- Of those intersection crashes, 862 involved one or more injuries.
- At least 4 of the crashes were fatal.
When it comes to highway and interstate intersections, some of the area’s freeways were more dangerous than others. Here are the number of intersection accidents, which include accidents at on- and off-ramps, that occurred on some of Waco’s most dangerous highways and interstates.
- US 84 – 361
- Interstate 35 – 188
- State Highway Loop No. 2 – 126
- State Highway Loop No. 396 - 113
- Business U.S. Highway No. 0077 – 107
- U.S. Route 77 – 90
- State Highway 6 – 60
- Ss 298 – 41
There were also some notable city and Farm-to-Market roads with a large percentage of intersection accidents. Some of these include:
- Franklin Ave. – 43
- Bagby Ave. – 36
- Bosque Blvd. – 34
- FM 933 – 30
- N 25th St. – 30
- N 18th St. – 28
- FM 1695 – 25
- Homan Ave – 23
- Speight Ave – 22
While intersecting roads on these highways and streets are dangerous, the data shows that car accidents, bicycle accidents, and pedestrian accidents occur at intersections throughout Waco. Some of the intersections we’re familiar with as having higher-than-normal crash rates include:
- S. University Parks Dr. and IH35, near the Baylor Campus
- Bagby Ave. and Texas Central Parkway
- Hewitt Dr. and Estates Drive
- Franklin Ave and S. New Rd.
- Franklin Ave and Factory Dr.
- Franklin Ave. and 18th
- North Valley Mills and West Waco Drive
- Franklin Ave. and Valley Mills Drive
- Loop 340 and West Waco Drive
Common Causes of Intersection Accidents
Accidents at these and other intersections in Waco are typically caused by the same general types of driver negligence. Some of the top examples include:
- Driver distraction
- Failure to yield to traffic / running a red light
- Read-end collisions
- Speeding, including speeding to “beat the light”
- Left turn accidents
- Failures to yield to bicyclists and pedestrians
- Driving under the influence
In Texas, drivers have a legal obligation to obey traffic laws and safely operate their vehicles. These and other dangerous behaviors represent a failure to uphold that duty and can form the basis of a personal injury claim when victims suffer preventable harm.
Injured? We Can Help.
The Law Offices of Vic Feazell is an award-winning firm that’s recovered millions in compensation for auto accident victims across central Texas. If you or someone you love were injured in an intersection crash, we’re available to help you take the next steps in your legal journey. We offer FREE consultations and work on contingency, which means there’s no fee unless we win.
Call (254) 938-6885 or contact us online for a free case evaluation.