A fiery crash on a major stretch of Little Rock interstate killed one person, injured two others and caused traffic disruptions around the metro area Wednesday afternoon.
The crash, which occurred at 1:55 p.m., started when a tractor-trailer hit a car that was backing up in the right-hand, eastbound lane of Interstate 440 just east of the Fourche Dam Pike exit, according to the Arkansas State Police. The impact ruptured the truck’s fuel tanks, igniting a fire.
The burning truck then moved into the center lane and slammed into another tractor-trailer, which also caught fire, before jackknifing across the eastbound lanes and was fully in flames by the time emergency crews reached the scene.
Although state police spokesman Bill Sadler did not identify the victim, emergency responders on the scene, as well as the Pulaski County coroner, confirmed that the person who died was in the Wal-Mart Stores Inc. truck, and that the female driver of the car, a silver Chevrolet Impala, was taken to UAMS Medical Center.
Sadler said he didn’t know which vehicle accounted for the second injured person, nor did he know the extent of any of the injuries.
According to Sadler, the driver of the Impala was apparently backing up to an on-ramp.
“Some of the initial statements would indicate … [she] missed a turn or an exit off of [Interstate] 440 and was possibly trying to get over to Springer [Boulevard],” Sadler said. “She was attempting to back her way back onto the on-ramp … once she realized she’d gone too far.”
Sadler said it was too early in the investigation to identify those involved or to determine if any traffic charges will be filed. He did confirm that state police are conducting a criminal investigation.
When the truck hit the car, the rear of the Impala went under the Wal-Mart truck’s fuel tanks, said two witnesses, who said through a translator that they were riding in the second truck involved in the crash. Sadler confirmed that the two men, both Mexicans, were in the second truck.
“Once it was under the fuel tanks, it hit and then blew up,” said Diana Morales, a truck driver who was stranded in the eastbound lanes and translated for the two men. “The [Wal-Mart truck] driver was trapped by his seat belt.”
The two men, who declined to give their names, said there was a second person in the Wal-Mart truck, but Pulaski County Coroner Gerone Hobbs said there was only one fatality. Sadler later said he was aware of only one fatality but that traffic accidents involving fires are difficult to immediately assess.
“Anytime there’s fire involved, the troopers are going to take their time going through the wreckage and make sure nothing is overlooked,” Sadler said. “Sometimes it takes a while to know you’ve removed all of the human remains.”
He did not release any further information on occupants in the truck or the Impala.
The crash closed the eastbound lanes of the interstate, and shut down all but one lane on the westbound side for several hours.
Authorities diverted traffic to other thoroughfares, resulting in backups on interstates and other roads and highways, according to Arkansas Highway and Transportation Department spokesman Danny Straessle.
“[Interstate 440] is not just the road to the airport. It’s our major east-belt loop for the city,” Straessle said. “Where [Interstates] 30, 530 and 440 come together, it’s a vital interchange in our system. Anytime there’s an accident, or congestion, or even ice, the ripple effect is widespread and very quick.”
The timing of the accident compounded that ripple effect.
The usual early-evening rush-hour traffic on Interstate 30 and Interstate 630 was slowed further by motorists looking for alternative routes after the afternoon crash.
By 5:20 p.m., the westbound lanes on I-440 were reopened.
Two of the three eastbound lanes had been reopened by 9:18 p.m. Wednesday, Sadler said. He said he expected the third lane would be reopened later Wednesday night.
Straessle said that before reopening traffic lanes after a crash involving a fire, a highway engineer has to inspect the roadway.
“You get concrete hot enough it’ll pretty much turn to gravel,” Straessle said. “440 is the longest bridge we have in the state, it’s an elevated roadway, and we’ll have to get in there and take a look at what’s there before it opens back up.”
Front Section, Pages 1 on 03/20/2014