Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

One Killed, 11 Injured In Wrecks

Sunday was a rough day for area law enforcement agencies, as a trio of accidents kept them busy.

The day began with a fatality on Highway 67 with a Gurdon teenager being killed in a one-vehicle accident.

According to reports from Arkansas State Police Troop K out of Hot Springs, a 1988 Buick, driven by Sandra Adams, 25, of Stamps, crossed the fog line while traveling east on 67, striking the south end of a bridge just across the Nevada-Clark county lines.

The impact ripped the car open from the front to the right rear quarter panel, throwing four people from the car, including Lelia D. Cornish, 17, of Gurdon, who was killed in the 6:20 a.m. wreck.

Adams was the only one left inside the vehicle, and she was also injured. Adams was taken to Baptist Medical Center in Arkadelphia by ambulance.

Also injured in the accident were Robin Robinson, 10, of Gurdon, Desiree Adams, 6, and Iesha Adams, 3, both of Stamps.

Initially, Robinson and Desiree Adams were flown to St. Michael Hospital in Texarkana by Life Net, but were later transported to Arkansas Children's Hospital in Little Rock. Iesha Adams was taken to Baptist in Arkadelphia.

At 11:50 a.m., Arkansas State Police Troop K out of Hope worked a two-vehicle accident on U.S. Highway 371 near Rosston at the intersection of Arkansas Highway 200.

According to ASP reports, Phillip Heard, 38, of Rosston was traveling on Highway 371, when his 1984 Chevrolet pickup was struck in the left side by the 1991 Ford van, driven by Karen Glass, 34, of Taylor.

Heard received incapacitating injuries in the accident, though both were transported to Medical Park Hospital in Hope by the Hempstead County Ambulance Service.

No citations were issued in this accident.

The Hempstead County Sheriff's Office worked an accident at 2:30 p.m. Sunday involving four youths from Nevada County.

According to HCSO reports, a 1985 Thunderbird, driven by Jeremy Allen Gleason, 16, of Prescott, was traveling south on Hempstead County road 24, one mile east of U.S. 371, when Gleason lost control of the vehicle. It went off the right shoulder of the road, rolling over several times.

Gleason was cited for traveling too fast for conditions and having no driver's license.

Also injured in the accident were Joshua Phillips, 16, of Blevins; Victoria Gleason, 8, of Prescott; Jenny Gleason, 11, of Prescott; and Nicole Gleason, 12, of Prescott.

With the exception of Nicole Gleason, who was flown to a Texarkana hospital, all others were transported to Medical Park Hospital in Hope by the Hempstead County Ambulance Service.

Reports stated the car sustained $2,000 worth of damage.