Selma’s growth—and its location on the I-35 corridor—means a lot of daily merging, turning, and stop-and-go driving. Add event traffic around Retama Park, shoppers headed to The Forum, and ongoing I-35 Northeast Expansion (NEX) construction activity, and you get one thing: more conflict points where crashes happen.
Before we talk about Selma’s highest-risk intersections, it helps to anchor the conversation in real numbers from TxDOT.
Selma crash snapshot (TxDOT 2024 city totals)
TxDOT’s “Crashes and Injuries by Cities and Towns 2024” report shows the following totals for Selma:
- Total crashes: 364
- Suspected serious injury crashes: 8
- Suspected minor injury crashes: 35
- Possible injury crashes: 55
- Non-injury crashes: 265
- Fatal crashes: 0 (in the city totals shown for Selma) (Texas Department of Transportation)
For quick context along the same I-35 stretch, the same TxDOT table lists:
- Schertz: 931 total crashes
- Seguin: 1,113 total crashes (Texas Department of Transportation)
What “deadliest intersections” means here (and what it doesn’t)
In everyday conversation, people say “deadliest” to mean “this place is scary and people get hurt here.” The TxDOT city totals above show 0 fatal crashes for Selma in that report, but they still show serious-injury crashes and a meaningful overall crash count. (Texas Department of Transportation)
So in this post, “deadliest intersections” means:
The Selma intersections where traffic patterns create the highest risk of severe outcomes—high speeds, heavy merging, short ramp spacing, frontage-road turnarounds, and construction shifts—especially around I-35 and Retama Park traffic.
Selma’s highest-risk intersections and conflict zones (Retama Park area)
These are the locations Selma drivers most often ask about when discussing near-misses, congestion, and crash-type risk patterns. Use this as a commuter watchlist—especially during peak hours, weekends, and event traffic.
1) I-35 & FM 3009 (Roy Richard Drive)
If you’ve ever hit sudden braking here, you already know why it makes the list. FM 3009 is a major gateway for Selma/Schertz/Cibolo traffic and a key path for Retama Park area trips. The ramps, frontage road movements, and lane changes compress decisions into a short distance—especially when traffic is heavy.
Drive-smart moves here:
- Pick your lane early (especially if you need the frontage road vs. mainlanes).
- Expect sudden slowdowns near ramps.
- Leave extra following distance—rear-end chains are common in stop-and-go corridors.
2) I-35 frontage road & Retama Parkway
This is a classic “high-conflict” spot: drivers entering/exiting businesses, visitors unfamiliar with the area, and quick turns that happen when people realize too late they’re at the wrong entrance.
TxDOT’s I-35 NEX traffic impact notices routinely reference closures and work activity affecting the Retama Parkway area along the I-35 frontage roads, which is another reason to treat this zone as higher risk—work zones change patterns fast. (Texas Department of Transportation)
Drive-smart moves here:
- Slow down earlier than you think you need to.
- Watch for pedestrians crossing between lots (especially near restaurants/hotels).
- Use turn signals early—don’t “fake turn” and then dart back into the lane.
3) I-35 frontage road & Evans Road (and nearby turnarounds)
Frontage roads are deceptive: they feel like “regular streets,” but speeds and gaps often behave like highway traffic. When you mix frontage-road speed with left-turn/turnaround decisions, severe crashes can follow.
TxDOT’s project updates have specifically referenced work activity around Evans Road at I-35—another signal that patterns may shift and confusion can rise. (Texas Department of Transportation)
Drive-smart moves here:
- Assume someone may stop suddenly to make a late turn.
- Don’t tailgate through turnarounds.
- If you miss your turnaround, take the next one—sudden swerves cause multi-car crashes.
4) I-35 frontage roads & Forum Parkway / Olympia Parkway area (Selma–Live Oak edge)
This corridor carries intense retail traffic, short trips, and frequent lane changes. Short merging distances + distracted shopping traffic is a recipe for sideswipes and rear-ends.
TxDOT’s NEX traffic impact notes regularly reference closures and lane shifts in the broader frontage-road corridor that includes Forum Parkway and nearby access points. (Texas Department of Transportation)
Drive-smart moves here:
- Expect last-second lane changes from drivers looking for entrances.
- Treat every driveway like a potential sudden stop.
- Watch for motorcycles in blind spots during lane shifts.
5) I-35 mainlanes through Selma during construction shifts
Even when a crash doesn’t happen at a “street intersection,” construction traffic control can create crash clusters—especially with sudden merges, narrowed lanes, or unexpected ramp closures.
If you commute this stretch, check construction traffic impacts before you drive so you aren’t forced into abrupt maneuvers. (Texas Department of Transportation)
Why these places produce harder crashes
Selma’s higher-risk points share a few traits:
- High speed differentials: one lane moving, one lane braking
- Short decision windows: ramps, turnarounds, and entrances close together
- Unfamiliar drivers: event traffic and visitors
- Work zones: temporary patterns that change weekly (sometimes nightly) (Texas Department of Transportation)
If you’re in a crash in Selma: a practical checklist
This is general safety guidance—not legal advice—but it can help protect your health and your documentation:
- Call 911 if anyone is hurt or traffic is blocked.
- Get to a safer spot if vehicles can be moved and it’s safe to do so.
- Photograph the scene (vehicles, plates, skid marks, debris, lane layout, signage, lighting).
- Get witness info (names + numbers).
- Seek medical care promptly if you feel pain, dizziness, numbness, or headache—symptoms can be delayed.
- Request the crash report when it becomes available.
TxDOT explains how crash reports are requested and distributed (including statutory limits on certain crash report disclosures). (dot.state.tx.us)
Why Selma drivers should care about the 2024 numbers
A city total like 364 crashes in Selma in 2024 doesn’t tell you which single intersection is #1—but it does confirm a reality commuters feel daily: this is an active crash environment, even when fatalities are not reflected in the city totals for that year. (Texas Department of Transportation)
That’s why the safest approach is to treat Selma’s I-35 ramp/frontage network—especially near Retama Park and the big retail corridors—as “high-attention zones.”
Talk to Ryan Orsatti Law
If you were hurt in a crash in Selma, Schertz, Live Oak, or along I-35 near Retama Park, you can contact:
Ryan Orsatti Law
4634 De Zavala Rd, San Antonio, TX 78249
Phone: 210-525-1200
This blog is for informational purposes only, not legal advice. Reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship. Past results do not guarantee future results.