Jackson County, Arkansas – Arkansas State Police identified the victims of a fatal multi-vehicle crash on Highway 67 as Thomas Blevins, 68, of Logan, Ohio, and Terry Lutz, 55, of Somerset, Ohio. The tragic incident occurred when smoke from a nearby field fire shrouded the four lanes of the highway, leading to a chain reaction crash involving 16 vehicles.
According to the ASP report released on Wednesday, Oct. 4, the vehicles were headed north at the 99-mile marker when the visibility became severely limited due to the smoke. The crash involved 5 commercial and 11 passenger cars, and all vehicles came to a final stop on or near the north lanes.
In addition to the two fatalities, six other individuals were listed as injured in the report. The northbound lanes of U.S. Highway 67 near the 226 interchange were closed following the pileup and later reopened shortly before 10 p.m.
The crash caused a major disruption, with helicopters responding to the scene, and one person being airlifted from the area. The fiery crash brought traffic to a halt in both directions on U.S. Highway 67 near Cash.
This devastating incident is a stark reminder of the dangers of reduced visibility caused by natural elements such as smoke. Authorities have not disclosed the current condition of the injured individuals. The investigation into the cause of the field fire and the subsequent crash is ongoing. As more details emerge, the community continues to mourn the loss of those involved in this tragic event. Stay tuned for further updates on this developing story.