Five people were killed and three were injured in five separate cwrecks Saturday, all of which occurred in a seven-hour time frame, Arkansas State Police reported.
Three of the people killed were motorcyclists.
The first wreck occurred about 2 p.m. on Arkansas 25 just southwest of Heber Springs.
Shelby Neal, 57, of Pangburn was driving a 2006 Harley-Davidson north when he went off the right side of the road while driving on a curve, police said. According to a preliminary accident report, the Harley traveled 100 feet, struck an embankment and then went airborne for another 110 feet.
Neal was transported to Baptist Health Medical Center-Heber Springs, where he died.
A man was killed when he was trapped inside his burning car after a wreck just south of Little Rock about 4:15 p.m.
Christopher Don Tee, 38, of Little Rock was driving a 2004 Ford Mustang north on Arkansas 367, a two-lane highway. Near Rauch Road, Tee tried to pass a 2006 Toyota Tundra he was following "before it was safe to do so," the preliminary accident report states.
The Mustang collided head-on with an oncoming 2007 Nissan Altima. Police said the Mustang ricocheted off the Nissan and sideswiped the Toyota. It careened off the east shoulder, where it burst into flames.
Alicia Garcia, 60, of Little Rock was driving the Nissan, and 25-year-old Stuart McAlister of Little Rock was driving the Toyota. Both were taken to UAMS Medical Center with injuries.
About 20 minutes later, a fatal motorcycle wreck occurred on Arkansas 23, known as Pig Trail Scenic Byway.
Leroy Collyar, 64, of Eureka Springs was driving a 1993 Honda Goldwing on the highway north of Huntsville. Debra Gasper, 57, of Huntsville was a passenger.
While driving on a curve about 4:30 p.m., the motorcycle went off the road. Police said it went into a ditch and rolled, ejecting both Collyar and Gasper.
Gasper was killed. Collyar was taken to Washington Regional Medical Center with injuries.
Another motorcyclist was killed in a three-vehicle wreck about 6:15 p.m., state police reported.
Jason Manning of Salina, Kan., was driving a 2007 Harley-Davidson north on U.S. 63 near Hardy when he crossed the centerline and went into the path of oncoming traffic. The Harley overturned in the southbound lanes and was hit by two vehicles, a preliminary accident report states.
Manning was transported to an emergency room in Highland, where he died.
Jeffrey Allison of Maumelle and Jimmy Prince Jr. of Success were driving the other vehicles, a 2011 Ford and a 2002 Chevrolet. Neither Allison nor Prince was injured.
The last accident occurred just before 9 p.m.
Ashley Jewel Wright, 25, of Eureka Springs was driving south on Arkansas 187 in Carroll County when her 2002 Honda Accord blew a tire, state police said. Wright was driving on a curve at the time.
According to a preliminary accident report, the Accord went off the road and struck a tree. Wright was pronounced dead at the scene.
Metro on 05/04/2015