OZARK, Ark. (KFSM) — According to Arkansas State Police, an Ozark man is dead after a multi-vehicle accident that happened Friday (Dec. 27).
The accident happened at Interstate 40 West at the 32 mile marker in Franklin County.
George Earl Lyles and Joann Wall were on the side of I-40 in a 2004 Chevrolet. Westbound on I-40 were Wilbur Gaines, who was driving a 1999 Ford and Mary and Rebecca Bonner were driving a 2014 Honda.
The Chevrolet pulled out into the traffic and was struck by both the Ford and Honda, killing Lyles who was driving the Chevrolet according to the Arkansas State Police preliminary report but family members dispute this.
Joann Wall and her sister Lisa Beaudry spoke with 5NEWS about the accident and says Wall was the driver.
They say Wall and Lyles were traveling on I-40 westbound when Wall was waiting to merge into traffic.
“She was waiting to merge into traffic she got into outside lane slow lane then moved to fast lane it was moving too fast she looked out her side mirrors and she turned her head and looked back she ask George to look again to make sure it was clear he said it was she gave a signal looked again then pulled into outside slow lane then a car hit her vehicle from behind spum her car around and then the other vehicle t boned her vehicle then her vehicle ran off the road into the beginning of the wooded area then hit a tree.” Said Beaudry
They continued on to say Wall and Lyles were taken by ambulance to Baptist Health hospital in Fort Smith. Lyles had a broken pelvic bone and he was taken to Little Rock where he later died from a heart attack. He died at 2 a.m. Joann was treated at Baptist Fort Smith and has a broken wrist, ankle and is badly bruised.
The Arkansas State Police preliminary report says all others were injured and taken to Baptist Ft. Smith and Mercy Hospital Ft. Smith and that weather conditions were cloudy, and road conditions were dry.
This happened at 10:50 a.m according to this Arkansas State Police preliminary report. But Wall says the accident happened at approximately 7:01 p.m.
According to Arkansas State Police Public Information Officer Bill Sadler, the preliminary fatal crash summaries available online are only initial assessments and the details may vary from what’s included in the final report completed by the investigating trooper in the coming weeks.
