One person was killed and three others were injured, including a Walnut Ridge man and a minor, following a violent multi-vehicle crash on Interstate 55 in Crittenden County on Thursday morning, according to Arkansas State Police. The deadly collision unfolded during icy road conditions and caused major disruptions along the busy interstate near Marion.
The crash occurred at approximately 7:48 a.m. on January 29 at the nine-mile marker on northbound I-55. Troopers say the incident began near a rest area as traffic moved cautiously through freezing conditions. Emergency crews were dispatched to the scene shortly after the collision was reported.
According to a preliminary fatal crash report, a northbound 2017 Freightliner semi-truck driven by Ronnie Black, 50, of Walnut Ridge, was merging back onto the interstate from the rest area. As the truck entered traffic, it was struck from behind by a 2019 Freightliner driven by Zivko Josipovic, 57, of Hudsonville, Michigan.
The impact caused Black’s semi-truck to leave the roadway and cross through the cable median barriers separating northbound and southbound lanes. The out-of-control truck then entered the southbound lanes, where it collided head-on with a 2006 Honda Accord driven by 43-year-old Matthew Coles of Marion, authorities said.
Coles suffered fatal injuries in the crash and was pronounced dead at the scene. Arkansas State Police confirmed that Black, Josipovic, and a minor who was riding in Coles’ vehicle were all transported to area hospitals for treatment. Their injuries were described as unspecified, and no updates on their conditions have been released.
Investigators noted that icy road conditions were present at the time of the crash and may have played a significant role. The incident remains under investigation as troopers work to determine all contributing factors, including speed, visibility, and road treatment conditions. Authorities are once again urging drivers to slow down during winter weather, especially near rest areas and merging zones, where sudden changes in traffic flow can lead to deadly consequences.
