Six “unknown” people dead after pulling out in front of Peterbilt

Six “unknown” people dead after SUV pulls in front of oncoming Peterbilt in Arkansas on Monday afternoon. 

The accident happened at 12:20 p.m. on Monday, April 15th in Corning, Arkansas  at the intersection of Arkansas 135 and U.S. 62. 

According to the Magnolia Reporter, 82-year-old trucker Gerayne L. Poole was driving his 1996 Peterbilt along US 62 when a 2013 Buick SUV failed to yield at the Arkansas 135 intersection “pulled directly into the path” of Poole’s tractor trailer. The two vehicles collided and went off the left side of US 62, where both vehicles burst into flames. 

Poole was able to escape his truck but “the occupants of [the Buick] were unable to get out of the vehicle.” All six people inside of the SUV, a male driver, a male passenger, two female passengers, and two minor passengers, were all pronounced dead at the scene. Poole was flown to a hospital in Memphis and was treated for non life threatening injuries. 

A preliminary report from the Arkansas State Police lists the identities of the deceased as “unknown.” Autopsies will be conducted at the Arkansas State Crime Lab to determine the identities of the deceased. As of Wednesday morning, April 17th, one victim has been identified. Their identity has not been publicly released, reported KAIT 8.

Traffic was rerouted on US 62 for more than 6 hours. No further information has been released.