Police say recently hired Prairie Grove School District employee killed in fatal wreck last week
- Dennis McCaslin
- Jul 21, 2025
- 1 min read
The Prairie Grove community is grieving the sudden loss of Coach Blake Williford, a newly hired football defensive coordinator and ISS supervisor at Prairie Grove High School, who died in a tragic car crash on the morning of July 17.
According to the Arkansas Department of Public Safety, Williford, 50, of Owasso, Oklahoma,was driving a 2020 Chevrolet Silverado southbound on Viney Grove Road when his vehicle crossed into the northbound lane and collided head-on with a 2019 GMC Yukon.
Williford was ejected from the vehicle and pronounced dead at the scene. The other driver, identified as 44-year-old Tamra Noe of Prairie Grove, was hospitalized with injuries.
The crash occurred around 6:30 a.m. under clear weather and road conditions. The Washington County Sheriff’s Office is leading the investigation, and next of kin have been notified.
Prairie Grove School District confirmed Williford’s passing in a heartfelt Facebook post, urging the community to support students and staff as they process the loss.
Superintendent Luke Humphreys shared that Williford had only recently joined the district on July 1, having previously served as a teacher and coach in Jay, Oklahoma.
