WHITE COUNTY, Ark. — A Tuesday night crash on Interstate 57 has claimed the life of a young Arkansas man, adding to a growing list of deadly single-vehicle accidents on the state’s highways. Authorities say the crash happened in rural White County and involved a vehicle that left the roadway and rolled several times.
According to the Arkansas State Police, the fatal crash occurred at approximately 8:38 p.m. on Jan. 20 near the 41-mile marker on Interstate 57. Troopers were dispatched to the scene after receiving reports of a serious rollover crash involving a single vehicle. Emergency crews arrived to find extensive damage scattered along the roadway.
The victim has been identified as Bradley Grady Tharp, a 23-year-old man from Heber Springs. Investigators said Tharp was traveling northbound on I-57 when, for reasons still under investigation, his 2015 Dodge Dart left the roadway. The vehicle then rolled over multiple times before coming to rest.
According to the preliminary fatal crash report, the force of the rollover caused Tharp to be thrown from the vehicle. Arkansas State Police said he suffered fatal injuries as a result of the crash and was pronounced dead at the scene. No other vehicles were involved in the incident.
Authorities have not released information about whether Tharp was wearing a seatbelt at the time of the crash. Investigators are also working to determine if speed, road conditions, or other factors played a role in the vehicle leaving the roadway. The crash occurred at night, when visibility can be reduced and driving conditions may be more dangerous.
The Arkansas State Police continue to investigate the deadly crash as they work to determine the exact cause. Troopers are reminding drivers to remain alert, obey speed limits, and always wear seatbelts, especially on rural interstates where crashes can quickly turn fatal. Tharp’s death marks another heartbreaking reminder of how suddenly lives can be lost on Arkansas roadways, leaving families and communities mourning a life cut short.
