Two killed in separate wrecks Wednesday

A Hot Springs woman died in a single-car collision near Benton early Wednesday and an Arkadelphia man was killed in a separate single-car collision on Highway 70 east Wednesday afternoon, according to Arkansas State Police.

Jackie Gray, 67, of Arkadelphia, was westbound on Highway 70 east Wednesday afternoon in a 2002 Buick Rendezvous when, “for an unknown reason,” the vehicle traveled over the middle turn lane and two eastbound traffic lanes and exited the road to the left, said Sgt. Kevin Steed of the Arkansas State Police.

The vehicle then traveled through the roadside ditch for about 200 feet before striking two trees head-on, Steed said.

Traffic on Highway 70 was shut down for around 30 minutes shortly after 3 p.m. to provide a landing zone for LifeNet’s AIR 2 helicopter, but attempts at resuscitation at the scene were unsuccessful.

Gray was pronounced dead at the scene by the Garland County coroner, Steed said.

Earlier in the day, a Hot Springs woman was killed when she reportedly lost control of her car and crashed into a motel on Interstate 30 near Benton, injuring a Little Rock woman sleeping inside, according to an Arkansas State Police preliminary fatal crash summary.

Ashley E. Pharr, 34, driving a 2007 Toyota 4Runner, was reportedly westbound on the interstate around 12:30 a.m. when she lost control near the 115 mile marker, crossed the median and the north service road, overturned and struck the east end of the Troutt Motel, located at 15438 I-30.

Pharr was ejected from her vehicle and pronounced dead at the scene around 1 a.m. by Saline County Coroner Kevin Cleghorn.

Pharr’s vehicle reportedly struck a Little Rock woman, identified as Dharmishthaben D. Patel, 45, who was sleeping in one of the rooms inside the motel. She was injured and transported to Saline Memorial Hospital.

A Troutt Motel employee who answered the phone Wednesday morning identified Patel as a colleague who started working there about two months ago, according to Arkansas Online. Her injuries were described as not serious.

The report notes conditions were clear and dry at the time of the wreck.

The Sentinel-Record/Grace Brown WRECK SCENE: LifeNet and Lonsdale Fire Department personnel work to resuscitate the driver of a Buick Rendezvous on Highway 70 east of Hot Springs Wednesday. Arkansas State Police Sgt. Kevin Steed said the vehicle was westbound on Highway 70 when it started to veer off the road, crossed the center turn lane and two lanes of traffic, and struck a tree without braking. The driver was pronounced dead at the scene.