12/26/16   Arkansas Highway Death Toll Continues To Rise

With just 5 more days to go in 2016 the death toll on Arkansas roadways has risen to 530. According to a State Police report, on December 22,  a Hempstead County teenager lost his life in a head-on collision in Hope.

The unidentified youth, driving a 2015 Nissan Versa was traveling south on Bill Clinton Drive in Hope, crossed the centerline and collided head-on with a north bound 1999 Chevy pickup driven by 29 year old Michael Grisson of Hope.  Road conditions were dry, the weather clear at the time of the collision at 6:50 Thursday morning. State Trooper James Mathis investigated.

A Muldrow, Oklahoma woman died in a one vehicle accident Thursday afternoon in Sebastian County. State Police reported a 2010 Ford Focus, driven by 27 year old Jessica Schwarz of Muldrow, Oklahoma was headed east on Rogers Avenue in Ft. Smith when her vehicle went out of control, striking the raised island between two streets, then rolling before coming to rest on the passengers side. Schwarz died at the scene. Weather conditions were clear, the roadway dry at the time of the crash at 12:10 Thursday morning. Ft. Smith Police investigated the crash.

The 530 fatality of the year was recorded on Thursday afternoon in Union County.  State Police report indicates 30 year old Chelsey Harris of Strong died of her injuries and two others were injured. The report said that a 2009 Toyota Corolla, driven by Harris was eastbound on U.S. Highway 82..and a 2013 Ford F-150, driven by an unidentified 16 year old was westbound..and crossed the center line, striking Harris' vehicle head-on.  A passenger in the Ford truck was injured, an unidentified 15 year old from El Dorado. The driver of the truck was from Spearsville, Louisiana. The injured were transported to the Medical Center of South Arkansas in El Dorado.  The weather conditions were clear, .roadway dry at the time of the crash at 3:05 Thursday afternoon. State Trooper Justin Harmon investigated.