GENTRY, Ark. — An Arkansas community is raising money to establish a physical memorial for a woman from Benton County killed in a five-vehicle crash on I-40 earlier this month.
According to a crash report from the Arkansas Department of Public Safety, Lora Weygandt, 40, of Siloam Springs, was killed in the crash. She is listed as being a passenger in the fifth vehicle.
The report said that traffic was "slow and congested" due to weather conditions, which are reported as being wet and rainy during the time of the crash at 9:49 a.m. on Sept. 12.
The report suggests that at least four other vehicles involved in the crash were semi-trucks and that it occurred in the eastbound lanes of I-40 in Prairie County.
A Facebook post from Arkansas State Police on Sept. 12 said that the interstate was shut down for some time after the crash.
A 76-year-old man and a 66-year-old woman in the third vehicle, both from Ashland City Tennessee, were injured in the crash.
In the days following her passing, Ozark Adventist Academy (OAA) in Gentry identified Weygandt as a former dean.
"Lora Netzel Weygandt, an OAA Alumnus (2003) and former Dean of Women, passed this past Thursday. Lora was a vibrant member of Gentry and NWA. She has contributed so much to Ozark Adventist School and OAA that she will never be replaced in our hearts," OAA said in a Facebook post.
Out of respect for her family, classes and activities were canceled on Sept. 16, allowing for students and staff alike to attend Weygandt's service and reflect on her life.
"We join with thousands of others who have felt the loss of Lora deeply, looking forward in hope to that morning when all things are made new, and Lora and her family reunite to never part again," OAA said.
Now, OAS students are collecting pledges for a bike-a-thon and glow ride event that will take place on Saturday, Sept. 28.
A Facebook post from OAS said that proceeds from the event will go toward setting up a memorial.
"She was an inspiration to all of us and we'd like to honor her," OAS said.
Anyone looking to pledge donations can go to www.ozarkschool.org, go to payment, and select glow ride donation.
Watch 5NEWS on YouTube.
Download the 5NEWS app on your smartphone:
Stream 5NEWS 24/7 on the 5+ app: How to watch the 5+ app on your streaming device
To report a typo or grammatical error, please email KFSMDigitalTeam@tegna.com and detail which story you're referring to.
