2 killed in pair of deadly crashes

2 killed in pair of deadly crashes

Fatalities first in county in 2018

ralphhardin@gmail.com The death of a West Memphis man last week in a single- vehicle crash was the second fatality on a Crittenden County road in as many weeks.

On Thursday, Jan. 18, Rick Limbaugh, 61, was driving his truck on Interstate 55 just before 8 a.m., when he lost control of his tractor-trailer in the northbound lane and the truck ran off the road striking a road sign near the Mile 4 mile marker.

With roads dry and conditions clear, the reason for the crash was undetermined. Limbaugh’s rig eventually came to a stop in a nearby field. State police reported no other injuries and no other vehicles were involved in the crash.

The deadly crash comes less than a week after another road-related death.

Michael Evans, 65, of Memphis was killed in a two-car crash on Thursday, Jan. 11, in an accident just after 3 p.m., when he lost control of his 2006 Chevy Silverado while traveling east on U.S. Highway 64, between Marion and Crawfordsville. The truck crossed the center lane and struck another vehicle, a 2014 Lexus, which was traveling in the opposite direction. It was raining and road conditions were wet, although the state police report did not indicate if that played a role in the crash.

The driver of the other car was reported to have been injured but no further details were released in the official Arkansas State Police report.

By Ralph Hardin