Fatal Crashes Up Sharply In Northeast Texas; 19 Deaths In One 30-Day Stretch

ATLANTA, Texas — Fatal crashes have risen sharply across northeast Texas this year, with 52 people killed on roadways in the Texas Department of Transportation’s nine-county Atlanta District between Jan. 1 and July 12, according to the agency.

Nineteen of those deaths occurred within a single 30-day period — about 36 percent, or more than one-third, of the district’s traffic fatalities this year, according to TxDOT.

“These are not just statistics. They all have families and loved ones,” TxDOT Atlanta District Engineer Katie Martin said in a news release. “We need everyone’s help to reverse this trend. Please slow down, stay alert, and wear your seat belt every trip, every time.”

The Atlanta District covers Bowie, Camp, Cass, Harrison, Marion, Morris, Panola, Titus and Upshur counties.

According to TxDOT, the most consistent contributing factors in fatal crashes across the district are drivers leaving their lane of travel, speeding and failure to wear seat belts.

The rise follows what had been an encouraging start to the year. Martin said the district went more than a month in January and February without a single roadway death — progress that has since reversed.

“Driving is something we do every day, and because it’s so routine, it’s easy to forget the risk,” Martin said. “We want to encourage people to treat every trip with the caution it deserves.”

The agency is promoting its year-long “Be Safe. Drive Smart.” public awareness campaign, which urges drivers to buckle up on every trip, put phones away, slow down in bad weather, stop at all stop signs and red lights, pass only when legal and safe, and never drive after drinking alcohol or taking drugs or medications that cause drowsiness. TxDOT also reminds motorists to slow down or move over for stopped law enforcement, emergency, tow and TxDOT vehicles displaying flashing lights.

The campaign is part of TxDOT’s broader “Drive like a Texan: Kind. Courteous. Safe.” initiative. More information is available at DriveLikeATexan.com.