Wrong Way Vehicle on I-40 Leads to Fatal Wreck

66-year-old Cynthia S. Brown (Abbeville, SC) and 47-year-old James C. Southerland (Fort Smith, AR) were fatally injured in a car accident on Monday, July 22, 2024.

Shortly before 2:00 a.m. Ms. Cynthia Brown and Mr. James Southerland were both passengers in a vehicle (2018 Nissan) traveling west on I-40 near Hazen. A vehicle (2008 Chevrolet) traveling east in the westbound lanes of I-40 collided head-on with Ms. Brown and Mr. Southerland’s vehicle. The vehicle Cynthia Brown and James Southerland were traveling in attempted to swerve and avoid contact but the eastbound vehicle simultaneously swerved.

Ms. Cythia Brown and Mr. James Southerland sustained fatal injuries in the collision.

37-year-old Tiffany Nance (Fort Smith, AR), 42-year-old Luis Vega Romero (Las Vegas, NV), and two unidentified minors were also involved in the accident and sustained injuries. Those injured were transported to UAMS in Little Rock, Arkansas Children’s Hospital, and Baptist Health Medical Center Springhill.

Conditions were reportedly clear and dry.

Additional Details: Arkansas State Police Preliminary Fatal Accident Report

For more information about obtaining a full copy of the crash report: How to Obtain a Police Crash Report in AR

Accident Location: Interstate 40 (westbound near mile marker 198), Hazen, Arkansas, Prairie County:

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