The Arkansas State Police are investigating a series of five fatal accidents that occurred across the state between Thursday, November 5, and Saturday, November 7, 2026.
According to preliminary reports, these incidents resulted in five deaths in separate locations, with authorities noting that weather conditions were clear and roadways were dry at the time of each crash.
The sequence of fatalities began on Thursday afternoon and concluded Saturday morning. State troopers have provided details regarding the circumstances of each collision, but investigations continue.
On Thursday, November 5, two separate incidents involving pedestrians were reported. At approximately 2:13 p.m. in Crittenden County, 58-year-old Leigh Zanone Scull of Hughes was walking north on the west shoulder of Arkansas 131 when she was struck by a vehicle.
The driver of the vehicle fled the scene, and the car remains unidentified. Later that evening, at 7:11 p.m. in Sebastian County, 32-year-old Ariel Vongvilay of Fort Smith was killed while crossing Towson Avenue. She was struck by a southbound 2015 Jeep Cherokee; the driver of that vehicle was not injured.
Also on Thursday, at approximately 3:10 p.m., 74-year-old Theodore L. Wansley of St. Joe died in a collision on U.S. Highway 65 in Searcy County. Wansley was driving a 2000 Ford F-250 and was attempting to enter the highway from a parking lot when his vehicle was struck by a northbound 1997 Peterbilt truck.
Two additional fatal accidents occurred as the week progressed. On Friday, November 6, at approximately 3:20 p.m., 55-year-old Mary Couch of Heber Springs was traveling eastbound on State Highway 124 in Van Buren County. Her 2024 Subaru Forester crossed the centerline, left the roadway, and struck two trees after becoming airborne.
On Saturday morning, November 7, at approximately 6:12 a.m., 56-year-old Barbara Rackley of Bigelow died in a single-vehicle accident in Perry County. Rackley was driving a 2006 Jeep Laredo on Arkansas Highway 9 when the vehicle exited the roadway, re-entered the highway, crossed the center line, and ultimately overturned in a ditch after striking a guardrail post.
State police have not yet identified the driver involved in the hit-and-run incident in Crittenden County. Officials have noted that preliminary crash reports can sometimes contain inaccuracies and are subject to correction as investigations proceed.
