A woman died early Wednesday when the sport utility vehicle she was driving veered off Interstate 30 in Benton and then crashed into a nearby motel, hitting an employee sleeping inside, Arkansas State Police said.
Ashley Pharr, 34, of Hot Springs was traveling west on the interstate about 12:30 a.m., according to a preliminary report.
Pharr's Toyota 4Runner left the highway, crossed the median and traveled onto the northbound service road, where it overturned and struck the east side of Troutt Motel, 15438 Interstate 30 North, authorities said.
Pharr was ejected from her SUV and pronounced dead at the scene around 1 a.m. by Saline County Coroner Kevin Cleghorn, state police said.
The Toyota continued to travel after she was ejected and hit 45-year-old Dharmishthaben Patel of Little Rock, who was sleeping in a motel room. She was taken to Saline Memorial Hospital in Benton, authorities said.
A Troutt Motel employee who answered the phone Wednesday morning identified Patel as a colleague who started working there about two months ago. Her injuries were described as not serious.
The weather was listed in the report as clear and roads were said to be dry at the time of the crash.
Metro on 06/14/2018