Three dead after early morning two-vehicle crash near Interstate 40 near Ozark

An early Thursday morning crash on interstate 40 near Ozark in Franklin County took the lives of three individuals according to the Arkansas State Police.

A preliminary report filed with the ASP says a 2018 westbound GMC terrain traveling on I-40 near Mile Marker 38 collided with the north side guard rail of the Philpot Road overpass and turned facing north in the roadway. 

The vehicle was in stock by a westbound 2019 International 18-wheeler. The impact with the passenger side of the Terrain caused the big rig to exit the road on the north side of the interstate and come to rest in a ditch. 

The driver of the train, 30-year-old Ethan Pelts of Clarksville was killed as well as two passengers, 48-year-old Michael Wagley of Clarksville and 29-year-old Austin Lofland of Horatio. 

According to information supplied by trooper Tucker Phelps of the Arkansas State Police the weather conditions were rainy and the road was wet at the time of the impact. 

The wreck, which occurred at 6:28 a.m., resulted in fatalities that pushed the Arkansas Highway and Road death count to 150 for the year.