State vehicle fatalities for Oct. 12 – 18

Published 5:00 am Friday, October 23, 2026

State vehicle fatalities for Oct. 12 – 18

There were 8 fatalities on Arkansas roads and highways last week, bringing the total to 384 so far for 2026.
• Celeste Shanice Laird, 21 of Augusta, was killed and Makensea Janet Durham, 20 of Augusta, was injured in a single-vehicle accident that occurred on Monday, October 12, in Woodruff County.
A 2014 Jeep Patriot, driven by Durham with Laird as passenger, left the roadway and struck a bridge railing which caused the Patriot to overturn.
The accident happened at 9:45 p.m. on Monday. The weather was clear, and the road condition was dry.
• Amanda M. Miller, 50 of Walnut Shade, was killed and David A. Miller, 44 of Walnut Shade, was injured in a single-vehicle accident that occurred on Tuesday, October 13, in Carroll County.
A 2007 Yamaha, driven by David with Amanda as passenger, lost control causing the bike to land on its left side. Both riders were thrown from the Yamaha.
The accident happened at 7:19 p.m. on Tuesday. The weather was clear, and the road condition was dry.
• Rio Christine Ketron, 55 of Lead Hill, was killed in a single-vehicle accident that occurred on Tuesday, October 13, in Boone County.
An unknown vehicle struck Ketron.
The accident happened at 11:48 a.m. on Tuesday. The weather was clear, and the road condition was dry.
• Jonathan E. Wagler, 22 of Huntsville, was killed in a single-vehicle accident that occurred on Wednesday, October 14, in Madison County.
A 2006 Dodge Ram, driven by Wagler, was attempting to negotiate a left curve, and left the roadway. The Ram struck a sign, then a culvert causing the Ram to become airborne. The Ram then struck an embankment and overturned.
The accident happened at 5:57 p.m. on Wednesday. The weather was cloudy, and the road condition was wet.
• Susan Bearden, 73 of Branson, was killed and Mary Scaggs, 67 of Springfield, and Richard Strutton, 57 of Crocker, was injured in a two-vehicle accident that occurred on Wednesday, October 14, in Boone County.
A 2022 Chrysler, driven by Bearden and Scaggs as passenger, lost control and began to rotate to the left. The Chrysler crossed the center line and struck a 2022 International.
The accident happened at 8:50 a.m. on Wednesday. The weather was rainy, and the road condition was wet.
• Markus Embry, 56 of Russellville, was killed in a single-vehicle accident that occurred on Thursday, October 15, in Johnson County.
A 2025 Freightliner, driven by Embry, was south on U.S. Highway 64 with the dump bed in the raised position. The upper portion of the dump bed struck the outer metal girder on the I-40 WB bridge. The Freightliner overturned.
The accident happened at 12:30 p.m. on Thursday. The weather was clear, and the road condition was dry.
• Heinrich Groenewald, 49 of South Africa, was killed in a single-vehicle accident that occurred on Thursday, October 15, in Lee County.
A 2016 International, driven by Groenewald, failed to negotiate a curve and left the roadway. The International overturned.
The accident happened at 1:22 p.m. on Thursday. The weather was clear, and the road condition was dry.
• Susan Rayburn Graham, 55 of Hot Springs, was killed in a two-vehicle accident that occurred on Saturday, October 17, in Garland County.
An unknown vehicle struck an E-Bike and then left the scene. The E-Bike left the roadway and struck a mailbox.
The accident happened at 1 a.m. on Saturday. The weather was clear, and the road condition was dry.