ASP reports show uptick in Northeast Arkansas car crashes, fatalities

JONESBORO — The Arkansas State Police are reporting an increase in the rate of serious and fatal vehicle crashes along Northeast Arkansas roadways this fall.

• A Harrisburg man died after wheels from a trailer came loose and struck him while he stood in his front yard.

Michael C. Hamrick, 60, was pronounced deceased at the scene in rural Poinsett County at 2:15 p.m. on Oct. 9.

According to Arkansas State Police, Hamrick was standing in his yard when the right rear tires and wheels separated from a trailer on a 2009 Peterbilt, traveling east on Highway 14. Hamrick was hit by a wheel and tire, the preliminary report states.

• Two separate accidents claimed the lives of two Black Rock residents according to the fatal crash summaries released by the Arkansas State Police.

Curtis Humes, 22, of Black Rock died in a two-vehicle accident on Oct. 7, and Bobby Lee McCormick, 37, of Black Rock died as the result of a one-vehicle accident on Oct. 5.

McCormick was traveling westbound on Highway 90 in Randolph County, near the intersection with Hepler Road, on a 2005 Honda X 13 motorcycle. At approximately 12:24 p.m., the vehicle failed to negotiate a left-hand curve and left the roadway on the right side.

The Honda entered the ditch and overturned, causing the driver to be thrown from the motorcycle, according to ASP Cpl.

Nicholas Poulsen.

Humes was traveling southbound on Highway 115 in Lawrence County at 8:06 p.m. on a 2000 Honda V3W when a northbound 2016 Ford F-150 attempted to turn into a private driveway pulling into the path of the motorcycle.

The front of the Honda collided with the passenger side or the Ford, according to ASP Trooper Brady Bates.

• A crash at State Highway 384 and Jackson 258 in Newport claimed the life of Steven Poole, 25, of Bradford, on Oct. 5. State police report that Poole, driving a 2004 Chevrolet Avalanche, was traveling behind a 2011 Ford F-450, eastbound on Highway 384, when the Ford attempted to make a left turn onto Jackson 258. The Chevrolet swerved to the left to avoid hitting the Ford, but left roadway, and overturned.

• Danyelle R. Bassham, 49, of Wynne, died after the 2019 Toyota 4Runner she was driving left the roadway and rolled six times according to state police.

Bassham was traveling on Highway 284 in Forrest City when the crash occurred at 1:10 a.m. on Oct. 4.

The Arkansas State Police maintain records of all highway fatalities in the state and compile an annual report to the public.

Through Oct. 13, there have been a total of 502 deaths along state roadways.

In 2020, the ASP Fatal Crash Summary reports showed 613 fatalities, including the final two reported on New Year’s Eve 2020.