treacherous trek

Popular road-trip routes through Dallas-Fort Worth deemed among most dangerous in U.S.

The stretch of this highway from North Texas to Galveston is especially dangerous.

Photo by Getty Images

Travelers on Interstate 45 from North Texas to Galveston face one of the deadliest drives in the nation, a new study reveals.

For its survey, fleet tracking company Teletrac Navman examined data from the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) from 2016 through 2019. The report revealed staggering numbers for fatalities and incidents, as CultureMap news partner ABC13 notes:

During that time period, the company said that stretch of I-45 experienced .913 death(s) per mile
The most dangerous month to be on the interstate was October
The most dangerous day of the month was the 2nd
Saturday was listed as the most dangerous day of the week
The most dangerous hour of the day was between 2 am and 3 am

Elsewhere in Dallas-Fort Worth, the Teletrac report found that those who trek on I-30 from Aledo through Dallas on the way to North Little Rock, Arkansas saw .646 death(s) per mile, with the most dangerous time to drive 5 am to 5:59 pm. Interestingly, the Aledo-to-North Little Rock finding is new for the current list.

The report also revealed that drivers traveling on I-35 West from Hillsboro through Fort Worth on the way to Denton saw .528 deaths per mile, with 2 am to 2:59 am being the most dangerous time to drive.

Further down the list, the study reveals hazards from DFW drivers on Highway 175 en route to Jacksonville, Texas. That stretch saw .447 deaths per mile and the most dangerous travel time from midnight to 12:59 am.

Teletrac Navman’s report also notes several Texas highways that have fallen off the list, meaning safer passage. Those paths include I-37, Highway 290, and Highway 59.

This isn’t the first time I-45 has made national headlines for its imminent danger to drives. In 2020, Popular Mechanics called the highway the most dangerous in America.

Speaking of the most dangerous highway, this year’s most treacherous roadway is I-4 in Florida, per the Teletrac Navman.

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FWPD News

Fort Worth's longtime police chief Neil Noakes will retire in 2025

FWPD

FWPD chief Neil Noakes

After more than 25 years of dedicated service to the City of Fort Worth and the Fort Worth Police Department, Police Chief Neil Noakes will retire from law enforcement, effective May 2025.

Chief Noakes has been with the FW Police Department since 2000 and was appointed Chief of Police in 2021 by City Manager David Cooke.

In a statement, Noakes says that he's retiring to focus on his family.

"My emotions are mixed because I have been with the FWPD for half my life and have truly enjoyed my career," Noakes says. "Being part of our FWPD family has been an incredible honor and a privilege. I work with amazing people who strive to make a positive difference every day. I have also enjoyed working with an incredibly supportive Mayor, Council, and City Manager’s Office."

"My decision comes down to family," he says. "I have a supportive and loving wife and children who have sacrificed so much and supported me and the Fort Worth Police Department. I became a grandfather in July, and I have a second grandchild on the way. It’s time for me to focus on my family."

Chief Noakes has held various ranks and served in multiple areas of the department, including Patrol, DWI, Motors, and Internal Affairs.

Before being named Chief of Police, Noakes served as Deputy Chief, overseeing the South Command. He earned his bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice Administration from Tarleton State University and his master's degree in Criminal Justice and Criminology from Texas Christian University (TCU). Additionally, he is a graduate of the Southern Police Institute’s 137th Administrative Officers Course and TCU’s inaugural Leadership, Executive, and Administrative Development Program (L.E.A.D. #1).

His accomplishments include establishing a new Wellness Unit and his involvement in youth engagement programs such as Operation Progress, Read2Win, All Pro Dad, and the City of Fort Worth’s Education Initiative.

In a statement Fort Worth City Manager David Cooke praises Chief Noakes for his focus on community problem-solving and reducing crime, even despite Fort Worth’s population growth over the last decade.

“You’ve got to love the job to be good at being a police chief and he’s an extraordinary police chief," Cooke says. "If you hear him talk about the officers and the staff that work at the police department you get this beautiful understanding of what it’s like to be a police family. He leads the police department with that type of ethic and family feeling."

Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker says she has "nothing but respect" for Noakes' decision to retire and put family first.

"I’m so grateful to Neil, his wife, and his family for the more than 25 years of service, sacrifice, and leadership that he has provided to Fort Worth, Parker says. "He has led the Fort Worth Police Department through some of the most difficult times our city has faced with humility, transparency, and compassion for the community as his top priority. He is truly leaving this department better than he found it."

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