BY JACQUELYN BURRER
Fatal crashes in San Marcos and New Braunfels, 2020 2024
How we got here
What residents are saying
San Marcos
New Braunfels
A 2024 Consumer Aairs study ranked San Marcos drivers the second worst in Texas among cities with populations over 50,000. The city had the second-highest rate of driving fatalities in 2022 and ranked fourth in Texas for deaths involving a positive blood alcohol content per 100,000 people. “Approximately 75% of these crashes involved alcohol or drug use, and many were due to speeding,” Standridge said in the statement. “In 2023, the number increased to 19 fatalities, with SH 123 surpassing I-35 as the top fatality roadway, largely due to speed and substance use.” TxDOT Southwest Communications Director Brad Wheelis said that TxDOT relies on drivers to act responsibly. “Even one trac death is one too many,” Wheelis said in the statement. “Over the past ve years in San Marcos, the top contributing factors in crashes on TxDOT roadways were speed, driver inattention and alcohol.”
Local resident Danielle Johnson said that since moving to San Marcos nearly four years ago, she has been in two car accidents. “I’m terried of getting into another accident, especially because none of the accidents that we’ve been in have been our fault,” Johnson said. “Sometimes, I avoid driving on certain roads or the highway because I don’t want to deal with being involved in another accident.” Local resident Kelly Keefer said after she and her 10-year-old son were T-boned in July at Posey Road, she and her family will be moving to Iowa to get away from the growing trac in San Marcos. “We’re tired of living our lives stuck in trac, and so we kind of want to get away from it all …” Keefer said. “I have major anxiety about [driv- ing] now. Even my son …when he rides in the car with me, he’s always just like on edge. I just try to avoid [driving] as much as possible.”
20
15
10
5
0
2021 2022 2023
2020
2024
Fatalities involving positive blood alcohol content per 100K
Galveston
20.6
Midland
12.83
Odessa
12.35
San Marcos
11.91
Wichita Falls
10.73
SOURCE: TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, CONSUMER AFFAIRS COMMUNITY IMPACT
What’s being done
want to see improvements … but it’s a process, and it’s a process for a reason,” Miers said. Previous projects, like the Loop 82 reconstruction at I-35 and Aquarena Springs, and FM 110 opening in 2024, aimed to improve road conditions, reduce accidents and encourage drivers to use alternate routes to ease I-35 congestion.
In 2022, Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization, or CAMPO, partnered with San Marcos to study SH 123, SH 80 and I-35, aiming to improve the corridors to support the city’s rapid growth, according to Community Outreach Manager Doise Miers. “It can denitely be frustrating for those that
As of April 11, there have been 399 accidents in 2025, a 2.31% increase from the same period in 2024. Of the 399 accidents, 115 were on I-35, 48 on Loop 82 and 15 on SH 123, per TxDOT data. Standridge said the city and SMPD are working to reduce trac accidents through a dedicated trac unit targeting high-collision areas.
A multi-disciplinary spine center of excellence for scoliosis, artificial disc and back and neck pain
AUSTIN • ROUND ROCK • KYLE • BURNET FELLOWSHIP-TRAINED SPINE SURGEONS: John Stokes, MD • Eeric Truumees, MD • Alex Cruz, MD SCOLIOSIS: Matthew Geck, MD • Rory Mayer, MD NON-SURGICAL SPINE CARE / PHYSICAL MEDICINE: Kunj Amin, MD • Eric Mayer, MD • Lee Moroz, MD • Enrique Pena , MD Texas Spine & Scoliosis combines board-certified and fellowship trained spine surgeons, scoliosis surgeons, non-surgical spine MDs, spine therapy gym, MRI and the most advanced EOS diagnostics — all under one roof. Texas Spine & Scoliosis is designated as a Blue Distinction Regional Spine Center by Blue Cross Blue Shield and certified by
the Joint Commission for Spine Surgery. If you have a back or neck problem, consider a second opinion from a spine center of excellence proficient in minimally invasive surgery and artificial disc. Learn what might be causing your back or neck symptoms, along with some home remedies, by clicking on the QR code below.
Appointments: 512-324-3580 TexasSpineandScoliosis.com Texas Spine & Scoliosis
19
SAN MARCOS BUDA KYLE EDITION
Powered by FlippingBook