Arkansas State Troopers and Special Agents of the Arkansas State Police Criminal Investigation Division are continuing to investigate a two-vehicle crash that occurred shortly after 2:15 PM today along U.S. Highway 63 southbound near the intersection with Nestle’ Road.
As of 4:45 PM Troopers confirm there are four fatality victims. Two seriously injured victims have been airlifted from the crash scene and are being treated at Memphis hospitals. Other injured have been transported by ground ambulance to Jonesboro hospitals. At this time the investigating Trooper in charge of the crash scene does not have an accurate count of the injured. Additional information with regard to the number of injured will be provided once State Police personnel have interviewed victims at area hospitals.
The crash occurred when a passenger vehicle traveling southbound on U.S. 63 along the northbound lanes of traffic collided with a multi-passenger van carrying clients of Focus, Incorporated which provides day treatment services for developmentally disabled adults.
Three of the fatality victims were onboard the van and the fourth was the single occupant/driver of the passenger vehicle. The ASP has been assisted at the scene by Jonesboro and Bay Fire Department personnel in extricating the injured. Jonesboro Police have also been dispatched to the crash scene to assist State Troopers.
Additional information with regard to identities of the fatality victims will be released once all next of kin have been notified. Please check the Arkansas State Police web site, Preliminary Fatal Crash Summaries at http://www.asp.arkansas.gov/divisions/hp/hp_commanders.html#fatal
***Update***The Arkansas State Police has been notified by Memphis medical personnel that one of the two victims airlifted from the crash scene has died which brings the total death count at this hour to five.
