03/06/17  Arkansas Traffic Deaths Continue To Rise

A Cleveland County Man died Sunday afternoon following a one vehicle accident at highway 63 and Spring road. 49 year old Scotty Wayne Newman of Rison died when his vehicle, which was traveling south on highway 63, crossed the center line and the northbound lane and continued into the northbound ditch striking a tree. The accident was investigated by officer Gregory A. Rowland. 

A Casa, Arkansas man died in a one vehicle crash on Friday in Perry County. According to State Police report, 62 year old Lambert L. West of Casa died at the scene of the crash when his 1999 Dodge, westbound on state highway 324, left the road, struck and ran over a concrete water main and then struck a tree.

West was pronounced dead at the scene by Perry County Coroner Bill Greene. Weather conditions were clear, the roadway dry at the time of the crash at 4:37 Friday afternoon. State Police Corporal Brigham E. Jones investigated. West' death was the 77^th traffic fatality of the year on Arkansas roadways.

A 45 year old Hot Springs woman died and a 65 year old Hot Springs man was injured in a two vehicle crash in Garland County Sunday morning. A 2009 Kia Borrego, driven by Regina Durham of Hot Springs, headed south on state highway 227-north, north of Piney, crossed the centerline and struck a northbound 2007 Chevy HHR driven by Laurence Drashner, head on. Durham was later pronounced dead at a Hot Springs hospital. The extent of Drashner's injuries were not immediately known. It was raining at the time of the crash at 6:49 yesterday morning. State Trooper Michael Summitt investigated. Durham's was the 78^th traffic death so far this year on Arkansas roadways.