81-year-old man killed in fiery crash off Arkansas highway, state police say

An 81-year-old man died after his vehicle hit a tree off an Arkansas highway and caught fire Friday afternoon, state police said.

The single-vehicle wreck happened around 3:20 p.m. as C. Delbert Wetherington of Malvern was driving south on U.S. 67 South at Sticker Road in Hot Spring County, according to a preliminary report.

Police say Wetherington lost control of a 2005 Buick, causing it to travel off the highway and into a ditch before hitting a tree outside Malvern. The vehicle then caught fire, authorities added.

Wetherington was pronounced dead at the scene, according to the report. No one else was reported injured.

The weather was said to be clear and the road was dry at the time.

At least 262 people have died in traffic crashes on state roads so far this year, according to preliminary figures.

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