Texas’ Oil Boom Counties See Rise in Traffic Deaths

Vehicle crash deaths are significantly up in parts of Texas where oil and gas production is booming the most.

The Houston Chronicle reports that deaths rose more than 50 percent in the West Texas counties located on the Permian Basin. Deaths also went up about 11 percent in counties associated with the Eagle Ford and Barnett shales, according to Texas Department of Transportation records.

The records don’t show how many of those deaths might be directly linked to the oil and gas industry.

But deaths in commercial trucking accidents and multiple-fatality crashes have gone up on roads near drill sites and major highways like Interstate 20.

Texas has surpassed California as the state with the most annual traffic deaths in the United States.