Monticello Live

Around 11 o’clock, Friday night, state troopers, deputies, an ambulance, and Monticello’s fire and rescue team were called out to the scene of a single vehicle, roll-over accident, approximately 7 miles east of Monticello, on Winchester Road.

Arkansas State Troopers worked the wreck, assisted by Drew County Sheriff’s deputies.

One of the Chevy Tahoe’s two passengers was transported to Drew Memorial Hospital by SEEMS.  Rod’s Wrecker towed the Tahoe.

Around 4:30, Friday afternoon, according to sources at the scene, the driver of the Chevy Camaro had pulled onto Gaines Street, headed west, from South Hyatt St., when the Chevy Tracker pulled into the roadway, from the EZ-Mart parking lot, causing the collision.

No one was injured.  Monticello Police worked the wreck.  Dan’s Wrecker towed the Camaro.

Monticello’s “Mr. Carpenter”, as he is known to most local residents, was hit by a pick-up truck around 10:20 Thursday night, as he was crossing HWY 425, at it’s intersection with HWY 278.

The driver of the vehicle was traveling west, and turning south, when he saw Mr. Carpenter, but wasn’t able to stop in time.

SEEMS transporteed Mr. Carpenter to Drew Memorial Hospital, were he’s recovering this morning.

I just spoke to him, and he said there are no broken bones, and that he should be released later today.

James Carpenter is a former Walmart employee, who was severely beaten and robbed in 1995, and injured again when he was hit by a car on the Walmart parking lot in 1998.

Well, it’s been 6 months since I went to take a photo of a wreck at Dead Man’s Curve on January 21.  

I usually don’t cover “personal” situations on MonticelloLive, since the website  is about Monticello, and not about me, but once in awhile, an exception is appropriate.

I just want to say “THANK YOU” to the many friends and MLive readers, who have posted supportive comments, made phone calls, spoken a kind word when seeing me around town, and especially for the prayers that were lifted up for me, during my ongoing recovery.  I also want to thank everyone who sent in photos and news tips, that is always helpful and appreciated.

It’s not often that a person and a job “merge”, but that seems to be the case here, since most people know me as the “MonticelloLive guy”, and I thank you for the privilege of sharing your mornings with you, as well. (more…)

An Ashley County man was seriously injured around 10 pm Thursday night, when the Chevy pick-up he was driving south struck a concrete bridge railing, and them spun into a line of trees, on the east side of HWY 425, south of Lacey.

Drew County Sheriff’s deputies worked the accident; MASI transported the injured man to Drew Memorial Hospital.  Johnny’s Wrecker of Hamburg towed the vehicle.

The driver was later transported to Little Rock by ambulance for further treatment.

Around 9 o’clock Thursday morning, a log truck was attempting to maneuver around a trac-hoe on North Cominto Road, when it slowly struck the machine, and overturned.

Drew County Sheriff’s deputies worked the scene, while a wrecker, along with the trac-hoe, returned the log truck to it’s upright position.

No major injuries were reported.

An Ashley County road grader was attempting to cross a railroad crossing around 10 am, Thursday.

The grader operator reportedly coundn’t see the train, due to a line of trees.

The driver was treated for minor injuries later.

Photo courtesy of Bill Horn, Drew County office of emergency management.

The driver of this Kia Optima drifted off of the pavement on HWY 278 East, just past the 277/278 intersection, and crashed into a culvert.

The driver was transported to DMH by MASI. The Selma Fire Dept. responded to the reported fire.

Drew County Sheriff’s deputies worked the wreck, and Triple A Towing removed the vehicle.

Keith Allen Hawkins, age 23, of Monticello, was arrested by Drew County Deputies, Saturday evening around 8:30, on multiple charges, after a hit-and-run wreck on HWY 278 East.

Hawkins was charged with DWI, leaving the scene of an accident, driving on suspended license, no vehicle tags, careless driving and  fleeing. 

According to reports, Hawkins crossed the center line, and this Ford Expedition attempted to avoid him, but still got side-swiped by Hawkins’ pick-up.

He then drove through a nearby yard, across the ditch, through a small  field, down Piney Creek Road, and finaly came to a stop in another road ditch.

Triple A Towing towed the Chevy, Rod’s Wrecker was called for the Ford.

He is being held in the Drew County Detention Facility, pending his first court appearance.

Around 5 o’clock, Friday afternoon, these two pick-ups were traveling east on Gaines St., when the Chevy stopped to cross traffic and turn in at Exxon.

The GMC did not stop in time, and rear-ended the Chevy.  Monticello Police worked the wreck.  The GMC was towed by Triple A Towing.

Shortly after 6 o’clock this morning, a fallen tree was noticed across Wilson Lane, just north of Monticello on HWY 425.

A Drew County Sheriff’s deputy arrived, and called for a Drew County back-hoe to remove the tree from the road.  They realized that a power line was down, because of the tree, and Entergy was called.

Moments later, a pick-up was coming around the curve and swerved to miss the tree, and collided with a gas meter, prompting Centerpoint Energy and the Monticello Fire Dept. to be called to the scene.

Someone at the scene commented, “there were more people involved in the morning activities on Wilson Lane, than probably are residents that live on Wilson Lane.

Around 4:30 Monday afternoon, a 38 year old male was arrested on Glenwood Drive, and charged with 1st degree criminal mischief, after driving his Nissan Altima into a residence. (more…)

Around 10 pm, Saturday night, the driver of this Chevy pick-up was attempting to turn back onto Gaines Street, but didn’t make it.

The pick-up’s front wheels drove over the wall that divides the parking from Commercial Bank’s community building from a nearby parking lot.

No one was injured. Monticello Police worked the wreck. Rod’s Wrecker lifted the front of the Chevy, and pulled it back onto the higher parking lot, safely.

Around 8 am, Saturday morning, police and rescue team members were called out to the scene of an auto collision at the intersection of HWY 425 and N. Hyatt St., near the Post Office.

A Hyundai Sonata was traveling south on HWY 425 North, and was turning east onto Hyatt Street, when the driver of a Ford Crown Victoria, traveling north on the highway, drove through a red light, and collided with the side of the SUV, causing it to turn over onto it’s side, trapping two female passengers and their two pets inside.

SEEMS and MASI both responded, and SEEMS transported the driver of the Ford to Drew Memorial for minor injuries.

The family in the Sonata had moved to Monticello from Tennessee, only a couple of days ago.

Not the best way to say, “Welcome to Monticello.”

A 41 year old Monticello woman was riding her Honda Shadow 600 toward Monticello around noon Monday.  As she entered the curve on HWY 83 North, near Rose Hill Cut-Off Road, a welding work truck was traveling north on HWY 83, and attempted to turn north onto Garnett Road, crossing in front of the Honda, according to Drew County Sheriff Mark Gober.

The bike’s operator was transported to Drew Memorial before being airlifted to UAMS in Little Rock, multiple broken bones.

Triple A removed the Honda from the scene; Rod”s Wrecker towed the work truck.

Children playing in a vehicle were reportedly the reason this GMC pick-up truck rolled down a sloping driveway, and into a mobile home, as well knocking over a gas meter.

Shortly after 9 o’clock, Sunday morning, a call came into the Monticello Police dispatch, reporting the accident.

MPD, as well as a Drew County Sheriff’s deputy, responded to the scene.  The Monticello Fire Dept. also was called, since there was also a risk of fire or explosion involved.

The residence was evacuated, the gas turned off, and Centerpoint Energy called to repaird the meter.

Around 11:30, Saturday night, an unidentified vehicle was reportedly traveling west on Robin Hood Drive, when the driver lost control, crossed a yard (narrowly missing a tree), and crashed into a brick home.

Substantial damage was done to the house, and a noticeable amount of damage seems to have been done to the car.

No one inside of the residence was injured, but a member of the family that lives there was in the room next to where the crash occurred.

If anyone has any information about the incident, or knows of a vehicle that sustained damage to the front of it, Saturday night, please contact the Monticello Police Dept. at 367-3411.

Thursday night, around 8 pm, there was a minor accident at the intersection of Godbold and Cooper Streets.

According to reports from the scene, this Mitsubishi Eclipse was traveling west on Godbold Street, which has a stop sign, and pulled into the path of the Chevy pick-up, which was traveling south on Cooper Street.

No one was reported to be injured.  Triple A towed the Chevy; C&L Wrecker towed the Mitsubishi.

As the driver of this ’93 Oldsmobile was traveling south on HWY 425 North, this 2004 Nissan Sentra reportedly pulled out of Popeye’s driveway, into the Olds’s lane.

Monticello Police worked the wreck, where no one seemed to be injured.  Triple A towed the Nissan.

The Nissan’s driver was cited for no insurance, and her license had expired less than 2 weeks ago.

Around 3:30 Tuesday afternoon, a Drew Central School Bus was involved in a minor accident, with a “low boy” big rig, belonging to the Arkansas Forestry Commission.

No one was injured, and damage was limited to the bumper and swing arm areas of the bus.

At the time of the accident, both vehicles were headed north on HWY 425, near the railroad crossing at the HWY 278 intersection.

No citations were issued at the scene.

S. Borchardt & Henly Dr., Scene of Minor School Bus-Car Accident

Around 7:55, Thursday morning, a Ford Taurus wagon struck the back of a Monticello school bus at the intersection of South Borchardt and Henley Drive, near McCloy Park and Old Warren Road.

Both vehicles were southbound on S. Borchardt St., and had both stopped at the stop sign.  The driver of the Taurus reportedly slowly rolled forward into the back of the school bus.

There were no passengers on the bus at the time, and the driver reportedly “only felt a bump”.

There were no injuries: no damage to the bus, and only very minor damage to the Ford, according to sources at the scene.

Between 7:30 and 8 o’clock Monday morning, there were 3 different, unrelated car wrecks in Monticello.

The first wreck call came into Monticello Police dispatch around 7:30, reporting a 3 vehicle collision on HWY 278 East, near Cherry Street.  A car had stopped, and the two vehicles behind it collided with it.  The Sante Fe, shown below, was the center car, with an 18-wheeler behind it striking it from the rear.  Tommy’s Wrecker towed the Sante Fe.

While officers were investigating that one, another call came in, reporting a minor wreck at the intersection of S. Hyatt and W. College.  No one was injured, and both vehicles were able to be driven from the scene.

Around 7:55, another call came in, telling of a more serious collision at the intersection of HWY 425 South and HWY 83, near UAM.  Judging by marks at the scene, the Chevy pick-up was pulling out of HWY 83, and entered the path of the northbound Ford SUV (top photo).

MASI trapsorted the injured from the Ford to DMH.  Triple A towed the Ford, and C & L towed the Chevy

As early afternoon rains fall across Monticello, please use caution as you’re out driving.  This large crane is parked near the overpass at HWY 425 and Jordan Drive, due to a mechanical breakdown.

Several unrelated wrecks have also been reported, including a collision at HWY 425 South and Bolling Street, which had traffic blocked for a short time around 12:15.

No one was injured, when this Chevy Silverado failed to stop, and drove into the living room area of an apartment, on Westgate Drive , behind Fred’s and Season’s, Monday morning, juat after 6 a.m.

Monticello Police responded to the call.

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Follow up investigation revealed that the driver, John Bodiford, age 32 of Drew County, was charged with unauthorized use of the Chevy, which is registered in Malvern.  The owner was contacted to come pick up the vehicle.  

On a follow-up call to the area, Bodiford was then arrested for criminal mischief and disorderly conduct, for burning clothes belonging to a victim.

The original wreck was investigated as an accident,m because he claimed that his foot hit the wrong pedal.

Just before 4 o’clock, Friday afternoon, calls began coming into the Monticello Police Dispatch, reporting the collision of a motorcycle with a gravel truck, at the intersection of HWY 425 and HWY 83, near UAMonticello. (more…)

Friday morning, around 6:30, a call came into Monticello Police Dispatch, reporting this collision of a Nissan sedan and an unloaded log truck, requesting Monticello’s Fire & Rescue Team.

The wreck occurred just west of the railroad crossing on HWY 278, near Wilmar, when the drivers side of the Nissan collided with the side of the tractor trailer.

The Arkansas State Police worked the accident, assisted by Drew County Sherriff’s deoputies. Triple A towed the Nissan. The driver was transportoted to Warren hospital.

Around 2 o’clock, Thursday afternoon, a Forrest City Grocery Co. tractor-trailer was traveling north on HWY 425 through the Lacey area.

The truck (believed to be empty by someone at the scene) topped the hill, which allowed the trailer to catch the full force of the strong “lake wind advisory” winds, causing the rig to be blown into the east ditch, as it continued to travel north.

The driver was unable to get the truck stopped before it turned over in the road ditch.

Triple A towed the big-rig, as Arkansas State Police investigated the accident, assisted by Drew County Sheriff Deputies.

The driver was transported to Drew Memorial Hospital, a passenger, also employed by the company, was reportedly not injured.

Claude Hill, age 66 of Florida, was driving this tractor-trailer west on Drew County’s  narrow Old Dermott Road, Sunday evening around 8 o’clock, when the big-rigs wheels dropped off of the road’s shoulder, heaving it stuck in the ditch.

Drew County Sheriff’s deputies arrived to assist with the accident, and arrested Hill, charging him with DWI, careless driving, and drinking on the highway.

Triple A towed the 18-wheeler to their facility, pending it’s release

The truck appeared to be affiliated with Carroll Fulmer Logistics, also based out of Florida.  No one was injured.

Hill bonded out of jail Monday on a $1260 bond.

This westbound green Ford Explorer was the subject of emergency calls Saturday night around 8pm, with one call reporting that the vehicle has rolled over, and that  3 occupants had been ejected, but when officers arrived at the scene, several different stories were told.

No one seems to have needed emergency medical attention, and the investigation is continuing.

Arkansas State Police worked the scene, assisted by Drew County deputies.  Rod’s Wrecker removed the Ford.

Around noon Friday, there was a 2 vehicle collision at the intersection of Jordan and Scogins Drives.

Someone at the scene believed that the Ford Taurus was traveling west, and crossed in front of the Chevy pick-up, which was traveling south.

A passenger in the Taurus had to be removed from the vehicle by the Monticello Fire & Rescue Team.

Monticello Police worked the wreck. Triple A Towing pulled  the pick-up, Rod’s Wrecker removed the Taurus.

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.

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.

Even though this wreck took place on New Year’s Eve afternoon, the photo is still a good reminder to be careful, and drive slower than usual while traveling the next couple of day, with the wet, cold, and likely freezing conditions that cover the Monticello area.

The Mercury Grand Marquis was being driven by a lady from Louisiana, who was not injured in the accident, which occurred a couple miles south of the White Hall area on HWY 425 South.

Monticello’s Fire & Rescue was paged to the scene, which was worked by the Arkansas State Police, assisted by Drew County Sheriff’s deputies.

Rod’s Wrecker sent a couple of wreckers to remove the Mercury.