Posted in Crash Fatalities on December 3, 2018
Our newest Oklahoma Crash Fatality Dashboard looks at recent FARS data to determine what areas of Tulsa are the most accident-prone. Luckily, between 2015 and 2016 accidents decreased by 4.5% on our roadways. However, the fatality rates are still too high and our drivers are still distracted. According to our data and data pulled from the Fatality Analysis Reporting System, in 2016 there were 206 passenger vehicle fatalities, 261 truck wrecks, and 87 pedestrians were struck and killed in Oklahoma. Tulsa saw a spike in the number of truck accidents and passenger vehicle crashes.
The 2016 data shows that the majority of collisions didn’t involve another vehicle and the most fatal time to get behind the wheel was between 4 pm and 5 pm. In Tulsa motorcycle accidents decreased by 41.7% between 2015-2016 and pedestrian accidents decreased by 18.7% from 2015.
Top 10 Roadways for Fatalities in Tulsa
| Roadway | Fatalities |
|---|---|
| US-169 | 6 |
| I-244 | 5 |
| Us-164 | 4 |
| E 21St St | 4 |
| I-44 | 4 |
| E Skelly Dr | 3 |
| SR-11 | 3 |
| Creek Turnpike | 3 |
| US-75 | 3 |
| S Sheridan Rd | 3 |
The Breakdown: Tulsa’s Top 5 Deadliest Roads
US – 169
U.S Route 169 is also known to many as the Pearl Harbor Expressway and Mingo Valle Expressway. According to 2017 Oklahoma State Department of Transportation data, about 110,000 drivers commute on this highway daily making it one of the busiest stretches through Tulsa. Drunk driving accidents continue to be a major cause of fatalities on this particular stretch of highway. The map above shows the location of a fatal drunk driving accident just near the E. 46th street underpass.
I-244
Interstate 244, also known as the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Expressway, the Crosstown Expressway, and the Red Fork Expressway is an east-west interstate that passes through Tulsa, Oklahoma. This 15.8 mile-long stretch is a deadly road for drivers. One recent accident involved 2 fatalities from a head-on collision going westbound on the I-244 Memorial and Sheridan around 2:30 a.m.
US-64
U.S. Route 64 is a major highway that passes through the entire width of Oklahoma. Construction and closures along the Broken Arrow Expressway have created a lot of headaches over the last year for commuters. This two-lane highway is particularly dangerous because the average number of daily commuters is about 37,000 which makes it one of Tulsa’s busiest during rush hour.
East 21st Street
East 21st Street is a major lifeline for commuters throughout Tulsa. It stretches from Riverside Dr all the way across town to County Line Rd. Throughout the years there have been major fatalities and accidents along this road. A collision occurred at the intersection seen above on March 6th, 2016 that involved a drunk driver and unfortunately, three fatalities. Many bicyclists and pedestrians also frequent this route which makes it an ever more hotspot for these types of accidents. According to FARS data and the Tulsa Police Department, there were 18 pedestrian fatalities in 2017, this number is up 20% from 2016. Sadly, the numbers continue to climb.
1-44
Interstate 44 runs diagonally through Oklahoma and connects three of Oklahoma’s largest cities. As a major expressway in Tulsa, it’s clear why so many accidents happen. Dangerous debris, drunk drivers and erratic driving can all be attributed to the number of fatalities. Just recently, a semi-trailer fire briefly closed all westbound lanes just south of where the I-44 intersects with the I-244 in west Tulsa.
A Community Effort
Driver safety remains a major issue in Tulsa, and it only seems to be getting more serious every year. In 2016, there were 25 alcohol-involved fatalities. The holiday season can be a hectic time on our roads, so the attorneys at Bryan & Terrill want to remind everyone not to drink and drive! As a community, we can all work together to keep our roads safer and the number of fatalities down in the new year. We hope that by presenting these numbers to you that it will make you think twice before getting behind the wheel intoxicated or texting on the road.