Two crash victims die in Benton County

BENTON COUNTY — One person was killed Friday and another died Thursday in crashes on Benton County highways, according to Arkansas State Police.

A 15-year-old girl was killed in a single-vehicle crash about 12:45 p.m. Friday in Cave Springs when the vehicle she was traveling in veered off Arkansas 264 at Farrar Road, according to a preliminary report.

Police say an eastbound 2015 GMC traveled off the highway on its right shoulder and sideswiped a large tree.

The girl, a passenger, died as a result, according to authorities. Another passenger, 62-year-old Carolyn Willhite of West Fork, also was hurt.

Authorities did not name the GMC’s driver. No one else was listed as injured.

The weather was clear and the road was dry at the time, police said.

Lionel Lee Myers of Gravette died early Thursday after his SUV traveled off a highway and struck two trees, police said.

The crash happened shortly after 1 a.m. as Myers, 54, traveled north on Arkansas 59 in Gentry, according to a preliminary report. Myers’ Ford Explorer crossed into oncoming traffic and traveled off the highway before veering into a ditch and hitting trees.

Myers died as a result of injuries in the crash, authorities said. No one else was hurt.

The weather was clear and the road was dry at the time, the report said.

At least 199 people have died this year in traffic crashes on Arkansas roads, based on preliminary figures from state police.