3 drivers killed in state accidents

At least three people were killed in separate crashes on state roadways Tuesday, authorities said.

A central Arkansas man died when the tractor-trailer he was driving ran into a ditch, sending its load through the cab, state police said.

The single-vehicle crash happened around 12:10 p.m. on U.S. 65 South in the Desha County town of McGehee, according to a preliminary report.

State police said Travis Lee Smith, 31, of Mabelvale was in a northbound 2007 Freightliner when the tractor-trailer veered off the highway and stopped in a ditch.

The report noted that because of “momentum,” the 18-wheeler’s trailer load traveled through the cab and fatally struck Smith. The report didn’t indicate what the truck was carrying. No one else was reported hurt.

A short time later, a 25-yearold El Dorado woman died in Ouachita County when she turned into the path of an oncoming Peterbilt truck, state police said.

The crash occurred just before 1 p.m. on U.S. 278 in East Camden, according to a preliminary report.

State police said Tiffany Hill was turning left out of the Apex Redi-Mixed Concrete Co. parking lot when her vehicle was hit on the driver’s side by a 2007 Peterbilt traveling east.

Hill’s 2000 Ford van rotated in a counter-clockwise direction and ended up facing west in the highway’s eastbound lane, state police said. The truck left the road and stopped on the shoulder of the westbound lane.

The 25-year-old died in the collision, and the truck’s driver, 64-year-old Eddy Bryan of Louann, was hurt, according to the report.

Also Tuesday afternoon, a 23-year-old woman died after her sport utility vehicle collided with a pickup at a Faulkner County intersection and then overturned, authorities said.

Lauren Clark of Russellville failed to stop around 2:15 p.m. on Skunk Hollow Road at Arkansas 286 in Conway, according to a state police report.

Clark’s southbound 2013 Ford Escape then was hit by a westbound 2002 Chevrolet Silverado, causing both vehicles to travel off the south side of Arkansas 286, authorities said.

The Ford overturned onto its driver’s side, resulting in fatal injuries to Clark, the report said.

Also injured were the Chevrolet’s driver, 82-year-old Vincil Nast of Conway, and a passenger in the pickup, 82-year-old Betty Nast of Conway.

The weather was clear and roads were dry at the time of all three crashes, state police reported.