CRAIGHEAD COUNTY, Ark. — A fatal collision occurred on Sept. 11, 2026, at the intersection of Highway 18 and Highway 135, according to a preliminary report from the Arkansas State Police. The crash resulted in the death of one driver and injuries to another.
Authorities identified the deceased as Gregory Groves, 53, of Blytheville. Groves was driving a 2023 Chevrolet Traverse northbound on Highway 135 and attempted to make a left turn. The vehicle entered the path of a 2016 Kenworth, which was traveling eastbound on Highway 18. The two vehicles collided in the inside lane of Highway 18.
The driver of the Kenworth, 43-year-old Derick Smithson of Trumann, sustained injuries in the crash. Details about his condition were not included in the report.
The weather at the time of the crash was reported as rainy, and the road surface was wet.
The collision is under investigation, with trooper Nash Thomas listed as the investigating officer in the Arkansas State Police preliminary fatal crash report.