Quiet valley scene of deadly crash
Yellow jonquils dot the rocky hillside rising from the north side of Little Sugar Creek Valley; the roadbed of Arkansas Highway 94 rises several feet from the adjacent land.
Gashes in a tree denote where, just a week ago, an overturning vehicle came to rest against it, leaving one person dead.
Martha A. Simmons, 37, died in the one-vehicle crash there Feb. 17.
Area residents remembered a crash there just a month shy of 40 years ago.
At 2:30 p.m. Friday, March 19, 1976, three Pea Ridge residents were killed when the 1969 Cama- ro in which they were riding careened off the highway, crashing into trees at the same location, according to the March 24, 1976, edition of the Pea Ridge GraphicScene.
On that Friday afternoon in 1976, the one-vehicle accident at the same location resulted in the deaths of Billy Clanton, 14, Edward McCrary, 17, and John Marlow, 22. A fourth occupant of the vehicle, Robert King, 17, survived.
Last week’s accident, the 49th traffic fatality on an Arkansas state highway this year, was reported at 3:25 p.m., according to Arkansas State Police.
Pea Ridge Police and emergency personnel from the Pea
Ridge Fire and Ambulance Department responded to the crash just east of the highway off a steep embankment.
Simmons, who was driving a 2003 Chevrolet Tahoe, reportedly attempted to pass another vehicle on the sharp corner past Little Sugar Creek bridge when she lost control of her vehicle, causing it to roll several times, according to the Pea Ridge police report.
A witness reported Simmons had been tailgating him and attempted to pass him on the double yellow line heading into oncoming traffic.
State Highway 94 was closed from Cardin Road in Pea Ridge to Sugar Creek Road, south of the city. Traffic was rerouted until almost 8:30 p.m. while the Benton County Sheriff’s Office reconstruction team took measurements and photographed the scene.
Simmons was pronounced dead at the scene, according to Pea Ridge police. She was wearing a seat belt, police said.
Thursday, Feb. 25
6 p.m. — Pea Ridge Lions Club, Heritage Building
7:30 p.m. — Garfield AA, Brightwater Methodist Church. Open meeting and no smoking; for information, call 359-3734.
Friday, Feb. 26
6 p.m. — Seligman, Mo., Senior Center, Potluck supper and Bushwhackers; for information, call Jo Ann Corn at 417-6623749.
7:30 - 10 p.m. — Ridge Rockers Square Dance Club, regular dance, Pea Ridge Middle School; for information, call 531-2043.
Saturday, Feb.27
11 a.m. - 2 p.m. NEBCO Chili Cook-off, NEBCO community room, Garfield
7 p.m. — Seligman Chamber Dance, Seligman Chamber Event Center, Mo. Hwy. 37,Three Hits and A Miss, $4 each.
Wednesday, March 2
10:30 - 11:30 a.m. — Story Hour, Pea Ridge Community Library, 801 N. Curtis Ave.
11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. — Seligman, Mo., Senior Center, donation lunch, $3; for information, call Jo Ann Corn at 417-6623749. 12 p.m. — Pea RidgeTornado Siren test 1 p.m. — Hobbits, Lost Bridge Community Center onWhitney Mountain; for information, call Roberta Heaton at 359-2139.
4 - 6 p.m. — Loaves ’n Fishes food pantry,The Ridge Community Church, 836 N. Curtis Ave.; for information, call Bonnie Austin at 451-9333 or e-mail bonnie.austin.nlc@gmail.com.
6 p.m. — Blackhawk Foundation meeting