Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Accident leaves two injured

A two-car accident that occurred at 8:30 a.m. Monday, July 5, on Highway 67 South of Gurdon sent two people to the hospital.

Chad Dillard, 36, 7104 Highway 67 South, was driving a 1992 red Chevrolet pickup truck and Elizabeth "Annie" Otwell, 21, 30 Firehouse Loop, was driving a 2002 black Kia when the two vehicles collided near the junction of Highway 67 and Airport Road.

According to information from the Gurdon Police Department, both were taken to Baptist Medical Center-Arkadelphia. BMCA refused to verify status of the two, but friends of Otwell said she had extensive injuries but was expected a full recovery.

According to a police report filed by Sgt. Garry Marshall of the Gurdon Police Department, "Dillard was traveling south on Highway 67 and slowing down to turn left onto Haney Road." Haney Road is the short street beside the baseball field, directly across from Airport Road.

Marshall stated that Dillard was "distracted by a thermos in his vehicle and when he looked up, he had veered left into the other lane ..."

The report indicates that Otwell veered to her left in an attempt to avoid Dillard's vehicle, "but both vehicles impacted on their left fronts."

Otwell had the right of way, according to Marshall's report. There is no indication of any citations issued.

According to the report, both vehicles were disabled following the accident. Dillard's pickup was towed by Calley's Station. The report indicates that it was taken to Nix Equipment Company on Highway 67 in Gum Springs. Otwell's vehicle, which was registered to Vicki A. Otwell of the same address, was towed by Palmer's Wrecker Service.