Gillam man killed after Jeep struck making U-turn

A Gillam man was killed Thursday when his Jeep was hit by a truck as he attempted to make a U-turn, authorities said.

It happened about noon on U.S. 71 about a mile north of De Queen.

Arkansas State Police say Lloyd R. Kirkpatrick, 66, was driving a 1988 Jeep north on the highway when he pulled onto the shoulder, tried to make a U-turn and was hit by a northbound Freightliner truck.

Kirkpatrick was taken to De Queen Medical Center, where he died. The truck driver was not hurt.

The death was the 292nd in a traffic crash in Arkansas so far this year, according to preliminary figures.

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