Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Gurdon woman recovering from accident

On Wednesday, January 29, Bettye Stewart, 64, of Gurdon was crossing Main Street in Gurdon to visit a deceased friend at Horne Funeral Home.

The weather was dreary and misty as Stewart began to cross the street before her husband David.

Before reaching the other side of the street Stewart was struck by a 1999 Chevrolet S-10 pick-up driven by 20-year-old Cody Cox of Gurdon.

Police ruled the accident as nothing more than an accident and stated no charges would be filed against Cox because he was not drinking, nor was he speeding at the time the accident occurred.

Cox said he never even saw Stewart until the accident had happened.

"As far as we can tell, it was an accident," said Gurdon City Marshall Don Childres.

Stewart was transported to Baptist Medical Center in Arkadelphia where she was listed in stable condition in the intensive care unit.

Since that time Stewart has been transferred to St. Joseph's Medical Center in Hot Springs. According to a family member, she is off of the respirator, but does have a tube in her throat in case she does develop trouble breathing. She is having fluid drained off of one lung and doesn't seem to have any movement on her left side at this time.

Doctors told the family this could be due to a stroke Stewart suffered a couple of years ago and may be having some effects from that due to her head trauma. She is still being held in Intensive Care and also suffered a break in her pelvic bone during the accident.

Family members are hopeful and said Stewart has been kept sedated although she is opening her eyes, but not showing any other movements at this time.