Arkansas State Police: Wrong-way driver killed in head-on Collision with semi on I-40 in Pope County Monday night

A 47-year-old Dover man was killed late Monday night after driving the wrong way on Interstate 40 and colliding with two semi-trucks near London in Pope County, according to Arkansas State Police

.Jason Dotson, of Dover, was pronounced dead at the scene following the crash, which occurred around 10:38 p.m. on westbound I-40 near the 78-mile marker. The driver of one of the semis, Anthoney Level Hale, 47, of Benton, was injured and transported to St. Mary's Regional Medical Center in Russellville.

His condition remains unknown as of Tuesday morning.

Preliminary reports from ASP indicate that Dotson was driving a 2024 Chevrolet Malibu eastbound in the westbound lanes. A 2015 Volvo semi-truck, traveling westbound, spotted the oncoming vehicle and swerved right in an attempt to avoid a collision. The Malibu grazed the rear of the Volvo before continuing into the inside lane, where it struck a 2025 International semi-truck head-on.

The impact caused significant damage, and one vehicle reportedly caught fire, sparking a nearby grass fire that briefly complicated cleanup efforts. Westbound traffic was diverted for several hours into early Tuesday morning.

Weather conditions were clear and roads were dry at the time of the crash, troopers said. The investigation is ongoing, led by Cpl. Kyle Johnson of the Arkansas State Police.