Tuesday night head-0n crash in Dover proves fatal to both drivers in accident

Two people were killed and two were injured in a traffic accident that occurred Tuesday in the 12000 block of State Highway 7 in Pope County according to the Arkansas State Police.

Information gleaned from an ASP report that was posted to the Arkansas Department of Public Safety website, says two cars collided on the highway just before 8:40 p.m. Tuesday resulting in the death of occupants of each of the vehicles.

According to that report 45-year-old Benjamin L. Qualls of Dover was driving a 2008 Chevrolet south on State Highway 7 in its proper lane of traffic. A 2002 Chevrolet driven by 44-year-old Elijah T. Edwards of Hot Springs traveling northbound on the highway crossed the center line into the southbound lane striking the Qualls vehicle head-on.

After the impact the Qualls vehicle continued southbound before coming to rest in the west ditch line of the highway. The Edwards vehicle rotated counterclockwise before it came to rest in the middle of State Highway 7.

Thirty-year-old Mary J. Morrow of Hot Springs, a passenger in the Edwards vehicle, and 37-year-old Matthew Milnikel of Dover, were injured in the crash. Mill nickel was a passenger in the Qualls car, according to the report.

Senior corporal Stewart R. Conley of the Arkansas State Police investigated the accident and he said weather conditions were cloudy with the roadway was dry at the time of the impact.

The fatalities represent the 138th and 139th on Arkansas highways and roadways in 2023.