ASP: Fayetteville woman killed when Toyota hits horse on I49 near 99-mile marker in Benton County

An accident on Interstate 49 in Benton County claimed the life of a Fayetteville woman in the early hours of Thursday morning.

The Arkansas State Police reported that Dona L. Smith, 77, was driving southbound on I-49 near the 99-mile marker when her vehicle struck a horse standing in the roadway. The impact caused her 2018 Toyota to veer off the road and collide with a sign.

Smith was pronounced dead at the scene, and her passenger, 78-year-old Larry C. Smith, sustained injuries and was transported to Mercy Hospital NWA for treatment. Authorities confirmed that the road conditions were dry at the time, but foggy weather may have contributed to the crash.

The Arkansas State Police are investigating how the horse came to be on the interstate and whether any preventive measures could have avoided the accident.

Smith’s body was taken to the Benton County Morgue, and her next of kin have been notified.