Road crashes in state kill 3 people; 1 hurt

Fatal wrecks in Arkansas
Fatal wrecks in Arkansas


Three people were killed and one injured in two motor vehicle crashes on Arkansas roads Thursday, according to preliminary accident reports.

At 5:20 a.m., Joshua Spaeth, 38, of Waldron was killed in an accident on U.S. 71 in Waldron, according to a report by the Arkansas State Police.

Spaeth was driving a 2014 Chevrolet north on the highway behind a 1995 Kenworth truck and failed to maintain a proper distance, resulting in his vehicle striking the back of the truck, the report says.

A trooper reported that the weather was clear and the road was dry at the time.

At 7:34 a.m., Ashley French, 28, of Magnolia and a minor who was not identified were killed in an accident on U.S. 79 south of Camden, according to a state police report.

French was headed north in a 2018 Nissan Maxima when her car was struck by a southbound Tesla T3 whose driver lost control on a curve, the report says.

The minor who was killed was a passenger in the Tesla. The Tesla's driver, Tourke Hooker, 48, of Camden was injured, the report says.

A trooper noted that it was raining and the road was wet.


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