Troop D reports fatality-free holiday

There were no fatalities reported in Arkansas State Police Troop D during the Thanksgiving holiday weekend. According to Troop D officials, troopers investigated nine accidents over the holiday. The report shows troopers were involved in one pursuit and worked four checkpoints. They made 68 criminal arrests, two felony arrests, 56 misdemeanor arrests and 10 arrests for possessions. There were five motorists arrested for driving while intoxicated, 137 were given tickets for speeding, 12 were cited for failure to wear a seat belt and six received tickets for violating the child restraint law. Troopers assisted 23 motorists and issued 277 warnings. Although no fatalities occurred over the holiday period, troopers investigated a three-vehicle accident early Monday morning on the Highway 49 bridge over the Mississippi River at Helena-West Helena. Troop D reports the accident occurred at 5:53 a.m. According to the report, Willie E. Pointer, 71, of Poplar Grove, was traveling south in a 2007 Nissan Altima when he met two vehicles, a 2012 Dodge Charger and a 2014 Dodge Charger, traveling northbound. Officers reported the driver of the 2012 Dodge Charger, Fernando Acala, 28, of Memphis, drove into the southbound lane, striking Pointer’s vehicle. The Dodges collided after the initial impact, according to the report. Pointer was killed in the accident. His death was the 532rd fatality reported on the state’s highways this year. Acala and a passenger, Eric Rodriguez, 30, of Memphis were injured in the wreck and transported to Regional One Medical Center in Memphis. Troopers said the roads were icy at the time of the crash due to freezing fog.