3 traffic accidents leave 3 dead on state highways

Three people died and twice that many were injured in wrecks on Arkansas roads Tuesday and Wednesday morning, according to preliminary fatality reports from Arkansas State Police and Little Rock police.

Amber Gill, 49, of Paragould, was killed around 9:55 a.m. Tuesday when a 2006 Mercury Mountaineer crossed the turn lane of U.S. 49 in Paragould into oncoming traffic and collided with the 2017 Nissan Murano she was driving.

The driver of the Mercury, Jace Simpson, 26, of Paragould, was also injured in the wreck, as was Gena McCullar, 26, of Jonesboro, who was driving a third vehicle that was hit by Gill’s Nissan when it began rotating after the initial collision.

A state trooper investigating reported that the weather was clear and the road was dry at the time.

Nan Brooks, 87, of Bella Vista, was a passenger in a 2014 Buick that was southbound on Interstate 49 near Fayetteville shortly before 1:30 p.m. Tuesday when it was sideswiped by a 2013 Hyundai that lost control.

The Buick came to a stop in the far right lane after it was hit, but was then struck again from behind by a third vehicle, a 2021 Toyota, which was then hit in the rear by a fourth, a second 2013 Hyundai.

Brooks suffered fatal injuries, while Adele Simmons, 54, of Little Rock, the driver of the Buick, and James Brooks, 86 , also of Bella Vista, another passenger in the Buick, were injured.

The driver of the Toyota, Tracy Blessing, 52, of Springdale, was also injured in the wreck. All three of the injured were taken to area hospitals for treatment.

A state trooper investigating the pile-up reported that in was raining and the road was wet at the time of the crash.

Charlie Johnson, 68, of Little Rock, was killed shortly after 10 a.m. Wednesday near 9700 Baseline Road in Little Rock when a 2005 GMC Yukon turning onto Baseline Road from Winston Drive hit the 2022 Toyota he was driving.

Johnson was taken to Baptist Medical Center, where he died of his injuries. The driver of the GMC, 49-year-old Brandee Moon, of Little Rock, was also injured in the wreck.

A police officer investigating the wreck reported that the weather was clear and the road was dry at the time of the collision.