Monticello Live

A Monticello man escaped injury, as his Ford pick-up truck, ran off of the road Saturday around 3:10 p.m. on Old Dermott Road.

The man was reportedly standing in the vehicle when first responders arrived, trying to get out.

Monticello Police, as well as the Fire & Rescue team arrived at the scene.  A Drew County Sheriff’s deputy worked the scene.

Triple A Towing removed the Ford.

Just before noon Monday, the driver of the vehicle shown here was attempting to park outside of Western Sizzlin’, and reportedly pressed the accelerator instead of the brake pedal of the car.

The car then crashed through the wall and window of the restaurant, injuring 3 customers while they were eating their lunch.

Two of the injured customers were taken by ambulance to Drew Memorial; the third was being transported by personal vehicle.

Monticello police, fire & rescue, Drew County sheriff’s deputies, and Arkansas State Police responded to the scene.

Thursday, the driver of this 18-wheeler put too much faith in his GPS unit, as he followed it’s guidance to Maggie White Road, and near an old logging area, used mainly for deer hunting, in the Possum Valley community.

No one was injured, as the vehicle had to be pulled out of the ditch, since the fully paved highway he was expecting, was nowhere to be found.

J.A.Goad got the big rig back on solid ground, and provided better directions to the driver.

As this link shows, another 18-wheeler had to be pulled out from Old Troy Road, back in May, 2008, after it’s GPS said that the dead end road was the best route to haul potatoes from Colorado to Georgia.

In the rain Saturday night, this Honda Civic and this Toyota Camry collided at the intersection of HWY 425 and 278.

One driver was southbound, turning east, and pulled in front the other vehicle, which was northbound.

Monticello Police worked the accident.

Triple A Towing pulled the Honda, while Rod’s Wrecker removed the Camry.

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Tuesday of last week, the 18 year old driver of this Dodge Stratus was traveling east on Scott Street, when she lost control, leaving the roadway, and smashing into a tree. 

The impact with the tree caused rear of the vehicle to rise high enough that the hood and windshield of the vehicle also hit the tree.

MPD and SEEMS responded to the wreck, and the vehicle was removed by Tommy’s Wrecker.

No one was injured,  Thursday afternoon around 3:30, when the driver of this heavy-duty Ford farm truck rear-ended this 18 wheeler, just south of Wilson Mill Road.

The three occupants of the farm truck were pulling a trailer loaded with equipment, which remained on the trailer,through the impact.

Arkansas State Police worked the accident, assisted by Drew County Sheriff’s Deputies.

This driver of this Mack dump truck, belonging to the Ashley County road department, was not injured Monday afternoon, when the fifth wheel holding the trailer came loose from the truck.

The dump truck was hauling cold mix asphalt, which spilled into a nearby ditch.

Arkansas State Trooper Clayton Moss investigated the wreck, assisted by the Drew County Sheriff’s Dept.  Johnny Wrecker Service of Hamburg removed the vehicle.

During the holiday season, please remember to be careful while driving.  Many auto accidents have occurred this week, especially on wet roads.

Tuesday, a Ford pick-up side-swiped a Ford Explorer, south of Lacey, sending the pick-up off into the line of trees across the ditch.  Monticello Fire and Rescue was called to extricate the driver from the vehicle.

The driver was taken to DMH by SEEMS.  Arkansas State Police worked the accident, assisted by Drew County Sheriff’s deputies.  Rod’s Wrecker towed the truck.

However, all traffic accidents aren’t as serious, such as this older Toyota, that simply had a wheel fall off while traveling down HWY 425 South.

This photo was taken by a MLive reader, while she was waiting at the stop light on HWY 425 North at the HWY 278 intersection.

Like they used to say on Sesame Street, “one of these thing doesn’t belong here.”

There was no wreck, and no one was injured.

This loaded Peterbuilt log truck was traveling south on North Gabbert, towards East McCloy St., when a small white car, waiting to turn north on Gabbert, from Union Streets pulled out in from of the big rig.

The car’s drivers saw the log-trucks turn signal on, and assumed that he would be turning down the narrow Union St., where she was.

Based on this, the driver of the compact car pulled out in front of the loaded truck, casuing him to slam on the brakes, and allow the rear portion of his load to slide forward into the street.

No one was injured in the incident, and appreciation goes out to the truck driver. 

In spite of the bad reputation that a lot of  drivers seem to face, because of a few, this driver’s quick action probably saved the life of the driver in the vehicle who pulled out in front of him.

There are many auto accidents everyday around Monticello, but many other close calls.

You could easily turn down a usually seldom-traveled road, and seems an 18-wheeler that turned short, like this one near Union and Gabbert Streets, Saturday.

Plus there is always a chance that a busy 3-way intersection may have an extra direction to worry about, because of a truck traveling the wrong way on 1-way street, like this one at Gaines and Church Streets, next to City Hall.

Several wrecks took place Monday evening, including this parked dump truck, which was rear ended by this Oldsmobile seday, that was traveling west on West College Street.

The accident occurred around 6:30 and no one was injured.  Both vehicles appeared to be drivable.

Monticello Police worked the accident.

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Around 1:30, Tuesday morning, this Mazda 626, carrying 4 occupants failed to make the turn in Dead Man’s Curve, two miles east of Monticello, and came to rest in the ditch.

SEEMS transported one victim to DMH; Drew County Sheriff deputies worked the wreck: J.A. Goad Towing removed the Mazda: and Triple A Towing pulled another vehicle from the scene that had mechanical problems, but wasn’t involved in the wreck.

3 occupants of this Buick Lesabre, and 2 persons riding in this Toyota pick-up were transported to Drew Memorial Hospital by SEEMS, just before 6 o’clock Sunday evening, following their collision at the intersection of Winchester Road and HWY 278 East.

The positioning of the vehicles indicated that the Toyota was traveling west towards Monticello, as the eastbound Buick attempted to turn onto Winchester Road.

Monticello Police worked the accident, assisted by a local constable, who directed traffic, as many churchgoers were traveling to evening worship services.

Triple A Towing and Rod’s Wrecker removed the vehicles.

The driver of this Pontiac Grand Prix reportedly swerved to avoid an oncoming vehicle in their lane Saturday around 10 pm, and caused the Pontiac to end up in the deep ditch, which runs next to East Jefferson St.

The passengers in the vehicle were not injured.

Monticello Police worked the scene; C & L Wrecker pulled the vehicle removed the car from the ditch.

The “Dead Man’s Curve” area was the scene of another serious motor vehicle accident, Friday morning, around 3 o’clock.

According to reports from the scene, the driver of this eastbound   Volkswagon Jetta crossed the center line, into the path of the oncoming westbound Plymoth Voyager, causing a head-on collision.

Both drivers had to be removed from their vehicles by Monticello Fire & Rescue, assisted by Drew County Sheriff Deputies.

SEEMS responded to aid the driver of the Voyager, and called for Air-Evac, an emergency helicopter transport, that has performed a training session with local emergency workers, but this is believed to be first “on scene” emergency pick-up in Drew County.

The victim was air-lifted to UAMS in Little Rock by chopper, from where it had landed, on the blocked off center line of HWY 278 East.

The driver of the Jetta was transported by MASI to Drew Memorial.

Triple A transported the Volkswagon, and J.A. Goad Towing removed the mini-van..

Just after noon Friday, Monticello Police, as well as Monticello Fire & Rescue were call to a 2 car accident in front of Fred’s, on HWY 425 South, to help get driver that was trapped in their vehicle out, by removing the door, which was jammed closed during the collision.

The driver of this Chevy Impala, reportedly pulled out of the Fred’s parking lot, in front of the southbound Sante Fe.

The driver of the Impala was transported by SEEMS to Drew Memorial.

Triple A Towing removed the Impala;  the Sante Fe was picked up by Rod’s.

 Clean up continues near Main St. and Gaines St. intersection, as shown in these photos, after Sunday night’s midnight crash, which closed the intersection overnight, and limited use of East Gaines St.

Here’s the informtion on the crash, with photos from Sunday night. 

Gaines Street opens with 2 lanes of traffic and a 4-way stop sign.

The driver of this Dodge truck reportedly fell asleep, before the crash.

Traffic light from Main & Gaines, waiting on inspection.

Light pole on northeast corner of Main & Gaines, leaning over blocked roadway

Clearview Glass staff replacing Barber Shop window.

AT&T crews re-installing phone lines.

"Barber Shop Row" after clean up.

The power pole that was laying across the street has been replaced, in front of lawyer's office.

Around 8 o’clock Monday morning, AHTD personnel took over the damaged section of East Gaines Street from Main Street to Gabbert Street, and opened that area to small vehicle traffic.

Large trucks will still be detoured back to HWY 425, to travel north to Rose Hill Cut-Off Road, and then turn either north to Dumas, or south to Dermott, McGehee, southbound destinations.

The daylight photos show the damage down by last nights wreck, which is described below.

A wreck just before midnight, Sunday night, shut down traffic on East Gaines Street, from Main Street, to Gabbert Street, as well as taking the two stop lights on the square out of service

A Dodge Truck, apparently veered into the light pole, which hold the traffic light, then continued down East Gaines Street, knocking another power pole to the ground, completely blocking the street.

Some businesses also received minor damage.

E. Shelton to S. Gabbert Street is a good detour route on the south side of the square, and N. Main to Trotter, Jefferson, or Oakland can serve as detours from the north.

Monticello Police and city crews responded to the scene, as did Entergy, to restore power.

SEEMS transfered the driver to Drew Memorial, while Tommy’s Wrecker removed the Dodge.

The driver of this Dodge truck, which was pulling a Prowler Regal camping trailer, which was in turn pulling a Gator G3 jon boat, lost control of the vehicles around 10 pm, Wednesday night, just south of 5 Mile Hill, on HWY 425 North.

The accident began when the boat began “fish-tailing” as it came out of the curve at the top of the hill.  The boat came to rest, next to it’s trailer, which was jack-knifed behind the camper trailer, which was laying on it’s side.

The driver of the Dodge was the only person involved, and was not injured in the mishap.

Drew County Sheriff’s deputies worked the accident; Triple A cleared the vehicles.

This Ford dump truck came to a stop after dropping off of the pavement on Old Dermott Road, after it’s driver reportedly moved over to avoid a school bus loaded with students around 7:30, Wednesday morning.

A Drew County Sheriff’s deputy worked the accident, while a MPD officer was also needed to slow traffic on the roadway.

Triple A Towing used a back-hoe to partially empty the truck, and needed a wrecker and a roll-back to set the dump truck back up onto the roadway, from the deep trench that was caused by the weight of the truck on the soft, wet ditch bank.

The driver was not injured.

Around midnight, Saturday night, a call came into MPD dispatch, reporting a serious wreck, that had occurred on HWY 83, in the Florence Road area.

A Mercury Grand Marquis was traveling south, and after spinning around before the impact, struck the bridge guardrail with the rear of the car.

The guardrail was ripped off of the bridge from, except for the far attachment piece.

The Mercury came to rest on the driver’s side, with only one wheel remaing on the bridge,

One occupant of the car was found several hundred yards south of the wreck site, and told police that there was another person in the car at the time of the crash, but no one else was found near the scene.

Monticello Fire & Rescue responded to assist with the search, but the missing passenger was soon reportedly found at a business on HWY 425.

The Drew County Sheriff’s Dept. worked the wreck, assisted by Monticello Police.  MASI transported the victim from the scene to Drew Memorial, while SEEMS transported the victim that was on HWY 425 . Rod’s Wrecker removed the Mercury from the creek bed.

This sedan was involved in a 2 vehicle accident shortly after noon, Wednesday, in Dead Man’s Curve, 2 miles out of town, on HWY 278 East.

Triple A Towing removed the vehicle from the scene.

At approximately 10 o’clock Saturday night, the Chevy Caprice Classic, shown below was pulling out of Chapman Drive, turning south onto HWY 425, when the vehicle stuck this Nissan 350Z, causing it to collide with the Chevy Cobalt, which came to a stop in the grassy area next to McDonald’s.

The Cobalt caught on fire, as a result of the crash, and the Monticello Fire Dept. responded to extinguish the blaze.

The driver of the Nissan saw the Caprice leaving the scene, and followed it to got the licenxe plate number. The Nissan driver then pulled in at Walgreens, and called the police.

The driver of Caprice was soon stopped by police and taken into custody, after turning east on Gaines St., and then north on Hyatt.

The cobalt was towed by Triple A Towing,  J.A.Goad Towing removed the Caprice, and Rod’s Wrecker pulled the Nissan.

No serious injuries were reported.

Judging by the skid marks at the scene, the Ford Taurus, shown below, pulled out of Huckleberry Lane, into the path of this Buick Lacrosse, which was traveling east, around 3 o’clock Saturday afternoon.

Monticello Police and Drew County Sheriff’s Deputies responded, with DCSO working the scene.

Triple A towed by Buick, Rod’s removed the Ford.

An occupant of the Buick was transported to Drew Memorial by SEEMS.

A bob-truck style butane delivery truck overturned on Rock Springs Road, Thursday afternoon just before 2 o’clock.

The right rear wheel of the vehicle dropped off of the pavement, causing the loaded butane truck to roll onto it’s right side.

The Drew County Sheriff’s Dept. worked the scene.   Monticello’s fire and rescue vehicle responded, as a precautionary measure.

The Southern LP Gas truck was rolled back over by a towing company out of Calhoun County. 

No one was reportedly injured.

Friday morning, around 9:30, the driver of this 4 door sedan was traveling towards town, when she lost control, spinning and coming to a stop in the ditch, while striking a tree.

Monticello Police and Drew County Sheriff’s Deputies responded, since it was unclear if the accident was inside of the city limits.

Triple A Towing removed the vehicle.

Around 3 o’clock Saturday morning, Monticello Police dispatch received a call from a Selma residence, reporting an overturned Kia Sportage, in a creek on Loggy Bottoms Road.

One occupant of the vehicle reportedly left the scene to get help. The other occupant of the SUV was transported to Drew Memorial Hospital by MASI, because of a previous aliment

Drew County Deputies worked the wreck; Triple A Towing “fished” the vehicle out of the creek.

Ann Hartness, age 36 of Monticello, was charged with DWI by the Monticello Police Dept. on Wednesday, Sept 16, following a 1 vehicle accident at the intersection of Patton and Edgewood.

Tuesday evening, September 22, between 7-8 p.m., Hartness was involved in another single vehicle wreck, this time on Barkada Road, just outside of the Monticello city limits, and was charged with DWI II by the Drew County Sheriff’s Dept.

The Ford Freestyle was towed Patton by Rod’s Wrecker, and from Barkada by Tommy’s Wrecker.

Hartness’ vehicle was also towed on Saturday, August 1 by J.A. Goad Towing., following another accident on Jefferson Street.

MPD and DCSO officers were called to several automobile wrecks during the day, Tuesday; twice to 2 different wrecks at the same time, in different locations.

Around 9:30, a Dodge Neon pulled in front of a Mack log truck at the intersection of HWY 425 at the old Texaco station, as she was attempting to cross from the right lane into the turning lane.  J.A. Goad towed the Neon.

Later in the day, a large Ford pick-up was crossing into the left lane as it’s driver, as well as the operator of a Mustang GT, were eastbound on Gaines street.  The Mustang driver was transported to Drew Memorial by SEEMS.  C & L called to tow the pick-up, and Rod’s Wrecker loaded up the Mustang.