04/17/17  Seven People Die Thursday Through Saturday On Arkansas Highways

The traffic death toll in Arkansas climbed to 142 over the weekend with the death of a 30 year old Lake Charles, Louisiana woman and two children and the death of a 56 year old Royal, Arkansas woman. According to a preliminary State Police report, the woman and two children died in a car-truck crash on I-49 North of Fouke in Miller County. A 2013 Mazda, driven by 32 year old Moses A. Jose-Perez of Lake Charles and a 2017 Freightliner truck were both headed northbound on I-49 in the right lane. Jose-Perez drove under the rear axle of truck's second trailer. Aileen Jose and one of the children died at the scene, the second child died at LSU Hospital. The driver of the truck was not injured. Jose-Perez' condition was unknown. The crash occurred Saturday morning at 6:10am. Weather conditions were clear..the roadway dry at the time of the crash. Trooper First Class G. Flowers of the State Police investigated.

On Saturday afternoon in Garland County a one car crash claimed the life of 56 year old Donna M. Anderson of Royal, Arkansas. According to State Police, Anderson was driving a 2009 Ford Focus, southbound on Ragweed Valley Road near Royal when she left the road, struck a tree and overturned. Anderson was pronounced dead at the scene by Garland County Coroner Jayson Neighbors. The weather was clear, roadway dry at the time of the crash at 5:35 Saturday evening. State Trooper Michael Summitt investigated.

Anderson's death was the 142^nd traffic death of the year That's averaging about 34 traffic deaths per month.

In other accidents, three people were killed Wednesday through Friday. According to a State Police report, 36 year old Johnny A. Carlile Jr of Van Buren, Arkansas died in a car-motorcycle collision on Wednesday night. The accident occurred in Van Buren. The report states that a 2009 Toyota Scion, driven by 20 year old Kevin Torres of Van Buren was turning south onto a Van Buren Street and collided with the eastbound 2007 Kawasaki motorcycle driven by Carlile. Carlile died at a Ft. Smith hospital. The weather was clear, roadway dry at the time of the crash Wednesday night at 8:29. The Van Buren Police department investigated.

On Thursday, a 55 year old Malvern woman died after her car crashed into a house. According to the State Police report, a 1988 Nissan 300 driven by Glenda Ellis of Malvern was eastbound on U.S. 270 and was in the turning lane and began to accelerate and lost control. The vehicle then travelled backwards, leaving 270, crossing the intersection of Brownwood Street and Brownwood Court, crashing into a house. Ellis died at the scene. Weather conditions were clear, roadway dry at the time of the crash at 5:25 Thursday evening. State Trooper Joshua D. Whitney investigated.

On Friday night in Jackson County a pedestrian, 68 year old Billy Womack of Newport died after he was struck by two vehicles. A preliminary State Police report indicated that Womack was riding a bike and was struck by a west bound 2008 Cadillac. Womack was lying in the road after being struck when he was struck by a second westbound vehicle, a 2013 Toyota. The accident occurred on Stegall Road. Womack was taken to a hospital in Newport where he later died of his injuries. The weather was clear, roadway dry at the time of the accident at 8:56pm on Friday night. State Police Corporal Daniel Riley investigated. That was the 138 traffic fatality of the year on Arkansas roadways, that averages out to about 34 fatalities a month so far this year.