Houston Fire Department Drivers Faulted in Two METRORail Collisions Amid Declining State Traffic Fatalities

An analysis released by the Hollingsworth Law Firm, using Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) Crash Records Information System data, shows that Texas recorded 3,809 traffic fatalities in 2025, an 8 percent decline from 2024. The report highlights that smaller counties, despite holding only a quarter of the state’s population, accounted for 44.7 percent of deaths, while larger counties such as Harris County also saw high fatality totals. It underscores the role of vehicle speed in pedestrian deaths and references Houston’s Vision Zero Action Plan, which aims to eliminate traffic deaths by 2030.

Separate TxDOT crash reports indicate that Houston Fire Department (HFD) drivers were at fault in two July 2026 collisions involving METRORail trains. On July 3, an HFD fire truck entered an intersection without proper care, striking a train and injuring a passenger and the operator. A second incident on July 17 involved an HFD vehicle disregarding a traffic signal, again colliding with a train and injuring multiple passengers. The fire department has not responded to requests for information or disciplinary action, and the train operator’s attorney is seeking compensation from the city.