Arkansas highway and road deaths total 566 (so far) during 2023

As of January 3, the total count for fatal traffic accidents in the state of Arkansas for the year of 2023 currently stands at 566 individuals.

Two accidents on New Year's eve, one in Jefferson County and the other end Hot Springs County, closed out the book on interstate, highway, roadway, and Street fatal accidents for the year in Arkansas.

Police say 38-year-old Cantrell Wine, of North Little Rock, and 67-year-old Adrian Valdarez, of Rio Hondo, Texas were the victims in those respective crashes.

That number, while representing all of the deaths amassed so far for last year, does not take into consideration any critically injured patients still in the hospital or those that die later on from complications from their vehicle accidents.

That total represents the lowest death toll on Arkansas roads and highways since 2019. The death toll that year totaled 499 one of only four years in the last decade that didn't see as many as 500 highway deaths in Arkansas.

The final count across the Natural State in 2022 was 607 Highway related deaths meaning 41 fewer drivers and passengers were killed in vehicular accidents last year than the previous year.

According to online information, 2014 was the least deadly year for x in Arkansas with 466 total fatalities recorded in that 365 day period. 

The national highway traffic safety administration estimated before the beginning of the year that 42,795 people would die in motor vehicle crashes during 2022. That represented a small decrease of about 0.3% as compared to the actual 42,939 fatalities reported for 2021

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