A woman is in the hospital, and several children are recovering from minor injuries, after being involved in a rollover accident on Albert Pike in Fort Smith on Tuesday (June 3), authorities said.
Cpl. Allen O’Mara of the Fort Smith Police Department said the accident happened at 8 a.m. when a red Toyota SUV collided with a maroon minivan at Albert Pike and North O Street. The accident caused the Toyota sport utility vehicle to flip over, according to police.
When officers arrived at the site, they said they found several small children cut and bleeding from the accident. The driver of the SUV was also injured, O’Mara said.
The minivan ran a red light and struck the SUV the side near Sunnymede Elementary School, police said.
“The lady that caused the accident said the light was green at first, and then turned red really fast,” O’Mara said. “She said she just didn’t have time to do anything.”
There were seven small children inside the minivan at the time of the accident, according to the family. They were on their way to Sunnymede when the accident happened, the family said.
Several of the children were treated at the site for minor cuts and bruises.
The driver of the SUV was taken to Mercy Hospital to be treated for an injury to her left arm, O’Mara said.
The names of those involved in the accident have been released. Ana Martinez, 26, was the driver of the van. Ariana Bowd , 21, was driving the SUV.
