MonticelloLive

Two Ashley County men were killed in separate accidents over a two day period in Drew County last week.

According to Arkansas State Police reports, the first accident occurred Thursday May 3 at approximately 6:45 p.m. According to the report, Craig Bailey, 43, of Hamburg was driving southbound on Highway 425 when he lost control of his 1999 Ford Explorer. The vehicle left the roadway, and when Bailey attempted to correct, the vehicle entered a sideways slide, hit a driveway and overturned. Bailey was ejected from the vehicle. The accident report notes that the highway was wet, and it was raining at the time of the accident.

On Friday, May 4, a two-vehicle accident occurred approximately one-half mile from the location of Thursday’s accident. According to the Arkansas State Police report, James Jerome Holt, 21, of Hamburg was traveling northbound on Highway 425 when his 1996 Ford Explorer crossed the center line and proceeded under the trailer of a 2004 Freightliner 18-wheeler driven by Efram Martin of Crossett. According to the report by Trooper Scott Russell, Deputy Drew County Coroner Larry Scroggins pronounced Holt dead at the scene around 1:40 p.m. The accident was reported at approximately 12:31 p.m. Martin, the driver of the semi, was wearing his seatbelt and was not injured. Holt was not wearing his seatbelt according to the report. Conditions at the time of the accident were clear, and the roadway was dry.

Both accidents occurred within two miles of the intersection of Highway 425 and 172 south of Monticello.