Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Four Die In Three Weekend Wrecks

Tragedy struck Nevada County during the weekend as three accidents resulted in four deaths.

According to Arkansas State Police Capt. Ron Stovall, the first accident occurred at 8:30 p.m. Saturday, March 25, at Emmet at a rail crossing over the Union Pacific tracks, killing a mother and her daughter.

A vehicle accident on U.S. 371 South claimed the life of one man early Sunday morning and another vehicle accident Sunday afternoon on Interstate 30 claimed another life.

Killed in the train-vehicle accident Saturday were Deanna Keough, 34, and her three-month-old daughter, Jada, according to Stovall.

James H. Corbett, 27, of Emmet attempted to drive a 1987 Chevrolet Cavalier across the tracks at the Elm Street crossing (last crossing on Highway 67, going south) and was struck by a train on the right side.

He said Jada Keough was ejected from the vehicle with her car seat and she was killed instantly. Mrs. Keough's body was ejected from the vehicle and came to rest north of the front portion of the vehicle, which was in ditch along the road bed of the tracks.

Corbett was transported to Wadley Regional Medical Center in Texarkana for treatment. As rescuers and police officials arrived, Corbett was sitting near the car on the railroad grade, east of the tracks.

Stovall said it was unknown if seat belts were in use.

Members of the Nevada County Sheriff's office assisted the ASP trooper in the accident.

The vehicle was torn into two main sections with the front of the vehicle coming to rest upside down in the ditch, and the rear of the vehicle came to rest near a stop sign across from the Emmet City Shop.

David Crews of Crews 44 Wrecker Service raised the front of the vehicle at the scene to look for another possible body, as well disconnect the battery. The vehicle's right headlight was still operating at the time.

Nevada County Sheriff Steve Otwell organized members of the Nevada County Rescue Unit, the Emmet Volunteer Fire Department and other volunteers at the scene to search the grounds between Elm Street, the railroad tracks and First Street in Emmet for any other possible victims. They lined up at arm's length and walked half a block, but found no one else.

Officials at the scene were told that Keough had another child  and its whereabouts were unknown at the time. No other victims were found by the searchers.

The second accident was discovered around 4:30 a.m. Sunday, March 26.

Stovall said the accident occurred 3.9 miles south of Prescott on U.S. Highway 371.

The scene is between the two hills just about one-half mile north of the Arkansas Highway Department facilities, and near the home of local attorney Charles (Chuck) Honey.

There are two county roads (48 and 50) intersecting with the highway near the scene of the accident.

The 1994 Chevrolet pickup was traveling north at the time, failed to negotiate a curve, struck a tree and caught on fire the truck was burning when passers-by came upon the scene.

Members of the Nevada County Rescue Unit (NCRU) were dispatched by the NCSO, along with police officials and the Nevada County Ambulance Service.

Killed in the wreck was Scott A. Graham, 20, of Prescott.

Members of the NCRU reported

the vehicle to be completely engulfed upon arrival.

Officials had difficulty in determining the driver and owner of the vehicle after the fire was put out, due to the vehicle identification numbers (VIN) and the license plate being destroyed in the fire. Ownership of a four-wheeler in the back of the pickup was later identified belonging to the Graham family.

The vehicle was transported to Prescott after 7:00 a.m. by Donny and Rainna McGuire of M&M Wrecker Service.

Sunday at 12:30 p.m. the third accident occurred on Interstate 30 near the 42-mile marker.

Stovall said the vehicle was westbound on I-30 in the right lane when the driver tried to change lanes, but lost control.

The vehicle, a Nissan Pathfinder, went into the median, hit a dirt embankment and overturned.

Ambulance personnel with the NCAS worked furiously to revive Connie B. Mattson, 37, of Mooresport, La., the driver of the vehicle.

However, their efforts were unsuccessful and she died as a result of her injuries.

Four other passengers in the sports utility vehicle were injured. Ambulances from Pafford Ambulance Service from Hope were called to assist with the transporting to a hospital.

All four others in the sport utility vehicle were injured and taken to Medical Park Hospital in Hope. They were Jonathan Mattson, 35, Darla Mattson, 6, Heather Mattson, 4, and Josh Mattson, 2.

Stovall said their injuries are not believed to be serious.

In all, the three fatal accidents occurred within a 16-hour period, according to Stovall.

Another accident, also on Interstate 30, injured three people near the 38-mile marker between 7:00 and 8:00 Sunday morning. That westbound vehicle left the road and went into the median, where it overturned in a small creek.

A woman and her daughter pulled the woman's husband from the vehicle after they successfully freed themselves.