Car Accidents
Highway 361 Crash Lawyer | Port Aransas Safety Concerns

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State Highway 361 between Corpus Christi and Port Aransas is facing renewed safety scrutiny after two fatal crashes killed three people and injured several others within days of each other in August 2026.
In response, the Texas Department of Transportation lowered the speed limit on the approximately 15-mile coastal corridor from 60 mph to 50 mph, while Texas DPS increased enforcement along the highway. More than 200 traffic stops were reportedly conducted during the first 48 hours of increased patrols.
The safety concerns are especially significant because SH 361 remains largely a two-lane undivided highway with narrow shoulders between Corpus Christi and Port Aransas. TxDOT has plans to eventually convert the corridor into a divided four-lane highway, but construction is not currently expected to begin until around 2030.
For families injured or affected by a serious wreck on this roadway, a Port Aransas car accident lawyer may need to examine not only driver conduct, but also roadway configuration, vehicle data, witness accounts, and the circumstances leading up to a collision.
Three People Killed in Two Highway 361 Crashes
The recent safety concerns followed two separate fatal collisions on SH 361 in August.
On August 10, 2026, a head-on collision near Beach Access Road 2 killed 59-year-old Jarrod Fangman and seriously injured another driver. Investigators reported that a southbound vehicle crossed into the northbound lane before the crash. The Wooley Law Firm previously reported on that fatal Highway 361 head-on crash near Port Aransas.
Just four days later, on August 14, a four-vehicle collision in the 8100 block of SH 361 killed two people and sent additional victims to hospitals. The Wooley Law Firm also reported on that four-vehicle fatal crash on SH 361.
The crashes involved different circumstances, and each must be evaluated based on its own evidence.
TxDOT Lowers Highway 361 Speed Limit to 50 MPH
Following the fatal collisions, TxDOT reduced the speed limit along the corridor from 60 mph to 50 mph.
The reduced limit applies along the stretch of SH 361 connecting the Corpus Christi area with Port Aransas. TxDOT also deployed additional safety measures, while DPS increased traffic enforcement.
A lower speed limit does not eliminate the risk of a serious collision, but speed can matter significantly on a two-lane highway where opposing vehicles may be separated only by a centerline.
Even a momentary lane departure can create the potential for a head-on crash.
Why Highway 361 Crashes Can Be So Serious
Much of SH 361 between Corpus Christi and Port Aransas currently consists of one lane in each direction without a physical median separating opposing traffic.
The roadway also has relatively narrow shoulders and sections near beach access points where vehicles may slow, turn, or enter the highway.
After a serious Highway 361 car accident, investigators may need to determine whether:
A vehicle crossed the centerline
A driver was distracted
Speed contributed to the collision
A driver failed to recognize slowing traffic
A rear-end collision pushed another vehicle into opposing traffic
A tire or mechanical failure caused a loss of control
Roadway geometry or visibility affected the driver's ability to react
Multiple impacts contributed to the injuries
The fact that a collision occurs on a two-lane highway does not by itself establish that the roadway caused the wreck.
Evidence After a Highway 361 Crash
A Port Aransas car accident lawyer investigating a serious SH 361 wreck may need to preserve evidence quickly.
Important evidence can include:
Vehicle event-data recorder information
Dashcam footage
Traffic or roadway camera footage
Witness statements
Photographs of the vehicles
Crash-scene measurements
Tire marks and debris
Cell phone records when relevant
Vehicle inspection records
911 calls
Police and EMS records
Roadway signs and pavement markings
In a head-on or multi-vehicle crash, investigators may also need to determine exactly how and why a vehicle entered the opposing lane.
That question can be more important than simply identifying where the vehicles eventually came to rest.
Planned SH 361 Expansion Between Corpus Christi and Port Aransas
TxDOT is planning a substantial reconstruction of the corridor through the SH 361 Mustang Island Project.
Current plans call for converting the existing two-lane highway into a four-lane divided roadway, adding raised medians and dedicated turn areas and improving accommodations for pedestrians and cyclists. The proposed project covers approximately 15 miles between Park Road 22 in Corpus Christi and the Port Aransas area.
The project remains in the environmental process, and construction is not presently expected to begin until approximately 2030.
Until those improvements occur, drivers will continue using the existing highway configuration.
Injured in a Highway 361 Accident Near Port Aransas?
If you were injured or lost a loved one in a Port Aransas car accident, Highway 361 crash, Mustang Island wreck, Corpus Christi-area collision, head-on accident, or multi-vehicle crash, you may have legal rights if another driver's negligence or other legally responsible conduct caused the collision.
A Port Aransas car accident lawyer can investigate vehicle data, roadway evidence, video, witnesses, insurance coverage, and the complete crash investigation to determine what happened.
Families who lose a loved one may also have rights under Texas wrongful death law.
The Wooley Law Firm represents people injured in Texas car accidents, including serious highway crashes throughout South Texas and across the state.
Call The Wooley Law Firm at (214) 699-6524 for a free consultation. You don't pay unless we win.
This article is based on developing public information concerning traffic safety and recent crashes along State Highway 361. Each collision involves different facts, and nothing in this article is intended to assign fault to any driver, governmental entity, contractor, or other person or organization without supporting evidence. This article is for general informational purposes only and is not legal advice. Reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship.
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The sooner you contact The Wooley Law Firm, PLLC, the sooner the firm can help you take legal action and seek compensation for your injuries. To schedule an initial consultation, call 214-699-6524 or contact the office via email.
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