A significant traffic incident occurred in Monroe County, Arkansas, on Monday evening, involving three semi-trucks. The accident, which took place around 5:30 p.m., approximately 3.1 miles southwest of Brinkley, led to a substantial traffic backup stretching over 20 miles of highway. The scene was not cleared until around 11 a.m. the following day, Tuesday.
The Arkansas Department of Transportation confirmed that one of the semi-trucks was transporting military equipment, prompting officials from Louisiana to assist due to the potential explosive nature of the cargo. This situation was further complicated by a grass fire that ignited at the same time near mile marker 211, heading eastbound towards Brinkley.
Following the initial incident, a multi-car crash ensued, involving the three semi-trucks, which tragically resulted in at least one fatality according to the Arkansas State Police. This event underscores the significant risks associated with transporting hazardous materials and the potential for chain-reaction accidents on major highways.
Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders released the following statement:
We are aware of the ongoing incident on I-40 in Monroe County and are working with local, state, and federal officials to keep drivers and residents safe.
While we work to resolve this situation, use Highway 70 for eastbound travel and Highway 64 for westbound travel to keep…
— Sarah Huckabee Sanders (@SarahHuckabee) August 27, 2024