Two men were killed in separate crashes along Interstate 40 near Coal Hill on Monday and Tuesday, Nov. 2-3, according to fatal crash reports from Arkansas State Police.
Both crashes involved vehicles leaving the interstate and striking trees, but they happened in opposite directions of travel, about six miles apart and less than 17 hours apart.
Johnathon Edwards, 22, of Coal Hill was killed Monday, Nov. 2, when his 2015 Ram pickup left the eastbound lanes of I-40 near mile marker 47 and struck a tree.
The crash happened at approximately 2:06 p.m. in Johnson County.
According to Arkansas State Police, the weather was clear and the roadway was dry at the time of the crash. No other vehicles were listed in the report, and no additional injuries were reported.
Edwards’ body was taken to the Johnson County coroner.
Less than 17 hours later, another driver was killed in a similar crash just a few miles away.
Michael Benjamin Morris, 46, of Estill Springs, Tennessee, was traveling westbound on I-40 near mile marker 53 when his 2024 Ford left the roadway and struck a tree.
The crash happened at approximately 7:03 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 3, near Coal Hill.
Unlike Monday’s crash, state police reported rainy weather and wet pavement at the time of the accident.
No other vehicles or injuries were listed in the report. Morris’ body was taken to the Johnson County coroner’s office.
Arkansas State Police investigated both crashes.
