The driver of a car that was traveling the wrong way on Interstate 40 died in a crash late Friday night, the third deadly wreck on the interstate in Arkansas over two days, authorities reported.
Arkansas State Police said Stanley Bruce Burton Jr., 55, of Maumelle was driving a 2013 Ford Taurus west in the eastbound lanes west of Lonoke. Around 11:45 p.m., the Taurus reportedly struck an eastbound GMC Acadia.
Burton suffered fatal injuries. The report listed one additional person as being hurt, though it didn't provide further details including the severity of the injuries or the vehicle the person was in.
It wasn't clear why the Taurus was traveling in the wrong direction. Conditions at the time were said to be clear and dry.
The wreck came a day after two separate crashes on I-40 in Conway County killed two people.
Shortly after 11:15 p.m. Thursday, a westbound 2010 Honda ran off the highway at mile marker 104 near Morrilton, state police said. It struck a barrier, hit a tractor-trailer and was then hit head-on by another vehicle, police said. The Honda driver, 51-year-old Gregory Davis, suffered fatal injuries, a report said.
Hours earlier, around 7:30 a.m., Sergio Escobar, 33, of Morrilton died in a four-vehicle wreck in the eastbound lanes near mile marker 109.
At least 20 people have died in traffic crashes in Arkansas so far this year, according to preliminary figures.
