Second accident within week occurs near Crystal Lake
DECATUR — A threevehicle accident near Crystal Lake Road in Decatur Aug. 17 resulted in non-life-threatening injuries for three area residents. The accident occurred at 12:17 p.m. at the intersection of Arkansas Highway 59 and Crystal Lake Road, one mile north of Decatur.
This is the second accident in the same location within a one-week period. The first accident, on Aug. 11, was a head-on collision between two vehicles and claimed the life of a Decatur woman.
According to Decatur police, the Aug. 17 accident occurred when a southbound 1994 Ford F-150 pickup was waiting to turn onto Crystal Lake Road. A 2001 Chevrolet extended cab pickup heading southbound on Arkansas Hwy. 59 rounded the corner north of the intersection and spotted the stopped vehicle but was unable to stop.
The driver of the Chevrolet pickup claimed brake failure and attempted to pass on the left side of the Ford pickup truck which was attempting to turn onto Crystal Lake Road. The Chevy pickup truck struck the Ford at a 90-degree angle, launching it into the air. The Ford vehicle rolled once and landed in the ditch on the northeast side of the intersection.
The Chevy pickup landed on top of the bed of the first vehicle. A third vehicle, a 2015 Chevrolet Suburb heading northbound, was struck and sustained minor damage. No one was injured in the third vehicle.
The names of the drivers were withheld by the Decatur Police Department at press time.
This intersection has been the site of several accidents, some with fatalities. One possible explanation for these accidents is that drivers heading southbound on Hwy. 59 and traveling at highway speeds are not able to see vehicles stopped and waiting to turn onto Crystal Lake Rd. due to the hill, a curve in the road and trees on the west side of the roadway.
Drivers entering this deadly stretch of highway near Crystal Lake should use extra caution and be on the alert for vehicles turning at this intersection.