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Kaufman County

Residents 197,829Deaths 2024 24Deaths 2015–2024 273Latest data year 2024

FARS data are based on police crash reports and other sources; the drunk-driving measure is based on the highest BAC of any driver in the crash. Latest data year: 2024. Figures are aggregates from NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System; no individual crash is identified.

Kaufman County, Texas, recorded 24 deaths in 22 fatal crashes in 2024, the latest FARS data year, and 273 deaths in 239 fatal crashes over 2015–2024.

With 197,829 residents, that is 18.4 deaths per 100,000 people a year over the ten years, 35% higher than the Texas rate of 13.6 and above the national rate of 11.8.

The ten-year death toll rose 24% from 220 in 2005–2014 to 273 in 2015–2024.

Of the factors FARS records, the one that stands furthest above the state share here is motorcyclists: 13.9% against 12.7% for Texas.

31% of the county's fatal crashes happened between 6pm to midnight, and Friday was the most common day (20%).

24deaths in 202422 fatal crashes
141deaths, 2020–2024273 over ten years
18.4per 100,000 residents a year2015–2024; 2024 alone: 12.1
+35%vs Texas ratestate 13.6 · US 11.8

Trend since 1975

01937197519801985199019952000200520102015202020241975: 22 deaths1976: 21 deaths1977: 22 deaths1978: 19 deaths1979: 14 deaths1980: 13 deaths1981: 11 deaths1982: 24 deaths1983: 21 deaths1984: 22 deaths1985: 22 deaths1986: 23 deaths1987: 28 deaths1988: 28 deaths1989: 26 deaths1990: 22 deaths1991: 20 deaths1992: 19 deaths1993: 20 deaths1994: 18 deaths1995: 12 deaths1996: 34 deaths1997: 34 deaths1998: 21 deaths1999: 26 deaths2000: 37 deaths2001: 20 deaths2002: 26 deaths2003: 31 deaths2004: 26 deaths2005: 18 deaths2006: 25 deaths2007: 26 deaths2008: 19 deaths2009: 21 deaths2010: 22 deaths2011: 19 deaths2012: 34 deaths2013: 12 deaths2014: 24 deaths2015: 18 deaths2016: 27 deaths2017: 31 deaths2018: 25 deaths2019: 31 deaths2020: 32 deaths2021: 36 deaths2022: 26 deaths2023: 23 deaths2024: 24 deaths
People killed in crashes in Kaufman County by year, 1975–2024. Latest point: 2024, 24 deaths.

Ten-year total up 24% (220 in 2005–2014, 273 in 2015–2024). The shaded band is the ten-year window used for rates and shares. County codes are matched to today's Census county list; a few historic code changes are merged.

Compared with Texas and the nation

MeasureKaufmanTexasUnited States
Deaths per 100,000 residents a year, 2015–202418.413.611.8
Deaths per 100,000 residents, 202412.113.311.5
Deaths, 2015–202427339,616389,190
Fatal crashes, 2015–202423935,785358,460
Deaths per fatal crash1.11.11.1
Change vs previous ten years+24%+18%+7%
Crashes on rural roads62%38%43%

Rates divide deaths by Census Bureau population estimates for each year (residents, not road users; through traffic on major routes raises the rate of small counties). Population 197,829 in 2024.

Factors

Alcoholcrashes with a driver reported as drinking27.2%
Speedingcrashes with a speeding-related driver28.5%
Pedestriansshare of people killed10.6%
Motorcyclistsshare of people killed13.9%
Unrestrainedoccupant deaths with no restraint used48.4%
In darknesscrashes after dark48.3%
Rural roadscrashes on rural roads61.8%

tick marks the Texas share. Bars are shares of fatal crashes (alcohol, speeding, darkness, rural) or of people killed (pedestrians, motorcyclists, unrestrained occupants) over the ten-year window.

"Alcohol" counts crashes where police reported at least one driver as drinking (FARS DR_DRINK), not the BAC-based alcohol-impaired measure NHTSA publishes separately. "Speeding" counts crashes with a driver coded as racing, exceeding the limit or too fast for conditions. Details in the methodology. Factor pages: alcohol, speeding, pedestrians, motorcycles, unrestrained occupants.

Time of day and day of week

12am3am6am9am12pm3pm6pm9pm
Sun
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat

Fatal crashes in Kaufman County by weekday and hour, 2015–2024: darker cells are busier. 239 crashes with a known hour and weekday.

By weekday

Friday20%
Saturday20%
Sunday16%
Monday13%
Tuesday11%
Thursday11%
Wednesday9%

Light condition

Daylight49%
Dark, not lighted46%
Dusk2%
Dark, lighted1%
Dawn1%
Dark, lighting unknown1%

Road type

Minor arterial24%
Major collector24%
Other principal arterial18%
Interstate17%
Other freeways and expressways10%
Local6%
Minor collector3%

FHWA functional classes as coded in FARS (FUNC_SYS), share of fatal crashes with a reported class; tick marks the Texas share. Interstates and other principal arterials carry the most traffic, so a high share there is expected. See what the road classes mean.

Weather

Clear78%
Cloudy13%
Rain8%
Fog, smog or smoke1%
Snow, sleet or freezing rain0%
Crosswinds or blowing sand/snow0%

Routes with the most fatal crashes in Kaufman

#RouteTypeIn countyFatal crashesDeathsAlcoholSpeeding
1Interstate 20Interstate4085298320%32%
2US Route 80US highway3513314223%32%
3US Route 175US highway3012714424%24%
4State Route 34State highway22698228%20%
5State Route 198State highway4222418%18%

Signed routes (Interstate, US and state highways) that have a page on this site, ranked by fatal crashes in this county over 2015–2024; "fatal crashes" and "deaths" columns are the statewide totals for the route. Local streets and county roads are not listed.

By year, 2015–2024

YearFatal crashesDeathsDrinking-driver crashesPer 100,000
20242224812.1TX 2024
20232123511.6TX 2023
20222126813.1TX 2022
202132361018.2TX 2021
20202932516.2TX 2020
20192631715.7TX 2019
20182325512.6TX 2018
20172731715.7TX 2017
20162027613.6TX 2016
2015181849.1TX 2015

Counts under three are shown as "1–2" (small-count rule). Per-100,000 uses the 2024 population for every year in this table; the ten-year rate above uses each year's estimate.

Questions and answers

How many people died in crashes in Kaufman County, Texas?

24 people died in 22 fatal crashes in 2024; 141 over 2020–2024 and 273 over 2015–2024, according to NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System.

How does Kaufman compare with Texas?

18.4 deaths per 100,000 residents a year over 2015–2024, against 13.6 for Texas and 11.8 nationally. Rates use Census Bureau population estimates.

What share of fatal crashes in Kaufman involved alcohol?

27.2% of fatal crashes in 2015–2024 had at least one driver reported by police as drinking, against 25.5% in Texas. The factor furthest above the state share was motorcyclists at 13.9%.

Which roads in Kaufman see the most fatal crashes?

Among signed routes with a page on this site, Interstate 20 (40 fatal crashes in the county, 2015–2024), US Route 80 (35 fatal crashes in the county, 2015–2024) and US Route 175 (30 fatal crashes in the county, 2015–2024).

When do fatal crashes happen in Kaufman?

Most often between 6pm to midnight (31% of crashes) and on Fridays (20%); 48.3% happened after dark.

Where does this data come from?

NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System annual files (1975–2024) and Census Bureau county population estimates. Figures are aggregates; no individual crash is identified. See the methodology page for definitions.

Provenance

Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Fatality Analysis Reporting System, annual national CSV files 1975–2024 (accident table for every year; vehicle and person tables for 2015–2024), public domain. Population: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, county totals (vintages 2000–2010, 2010–2020 and 2020–2024). Data through 31 Dec 2024; page generated 30 Sep 2026. Processing errors are corrected at the next build; see corrections and sources.