Accidents on Arkansas roads fatal for two drivers, pedestrian

At least three people have died in recent, separate road accidents in Arkansas.

A 21-year-old Hot Springs man died Saturday when his pickup was run over by an 18-wheeler on Interstate 40 in central Arkansas, authorities said.

It happened shortly before noon near Carlisle in Lonoke County.

Caleb Gallegos Quattlebaum was driving a 2007 Ford F-150 east on the highway when he attempted to overtake a tractor-trailer, according to an Arkansas State Police report.

The pickup then approached the rear of a second tractor-trailer, state police wrote, noting Quattlebaum “took evasive action to the right.” That sent his vehicle into a bridge support and then back onto the interstate, where the second 18-wheeler ran over the vehicle, police said.

Quattlebaum suffered fatal injuries. No one else was listed as being hurt. Conditions at the time were reported by police as cloudy and dry.

A 58-year-old Arkansas woman died Friday after her vehicle crossed the centerline of a state highway and hit another car head-on, authorities said.

The crash happened about 5:40 p.m. on Arkansas 69 in Izard County.

State police say Kathy Pannell of Melbourne was driving a 1997 Oldsmobile Aurora south on the highway when her car crossed into the northbound lane and hit a 2003 Ford Taurus head-on.

Pannell suffered fatal injuries. A second person was said to be hurt, though the report didn’t provide any details about the person or the extent of the injuries.

The report also didn’t indicate what might have caused the Oldsmobile to veer into the other lane. Authorities reported road conditions as clear and dry.

A 38-year-old Batesville man died Thursday after he was fatally struck by a vehicle, authorities said.

It happened around 10:45 p.m. as a 2012 Ford Escape was headed south on U.S. 167 south of Batesville in Independence County, according to a state police report.

Pedro Rodriguez was hit by the vehicle and died, police said, noting he was “in the roadway” when he was struck.

Conditions at the time were clear and dry, police said.