Firefighters from around the area assist with the US-67 accident

Jonesboro, Arkansas – Several agencies responded to the deadly crash on US-67. On Tuesday afternoon, fire departments from Jackson, Craighead, and Lawrence counties raced to the site of the 16-vehicle collision.

First to arrive were volunteer departments like Cash and Tuckerman, who asked larger communities like Newport and Walnut Ridge for assistance. Within twenty-five minutes of the collision, Newport and Walnut Ridge were on the scene.

Some of the first law enforcement officers to arrive on the scene were the Tuckerman police, who stayed for more than three hours.

“Even in my years as a trooper, I have never seen a crash that big,” said Tuckerman Police Chief David Dixon, who is a 31-year veteran of the Arkansas State Police.

Despite being a small department, Dixon said that they had a significant influence on the rescue operations during the deadly pileup.

“We were there just under three hours, and one officer said that it was the worst thing he ever witnessed, that many vehicles piled up, not a pretty site at all,” Dixon said.

After hearing the call over the radio, Walnut Ridge took immediate action. Chris Jones, the fire chief of Walnut Ridge, stated that some small departments had exhausted all of their resources before his team arrived.

“…was help take care of the fire to make sure it did not spread, and rescue operations were still going on a couple of vehicles so that’s what we did,” said Jones.

Chief Jones said that the scene was one of well-organized chaos and that it will stay with him forever. The degree of cooperation amongst agencies, he continued, contributed to the effective containment of the fire and the rescue of trapped drivers.

“We are a paid department and we have people here all the time but who’s to say we will need them one day,” said Jones.

For motorists who might be anxious to go back behind the wheel or who feel uneasy about driving in low light, Police Chief Dixon offers some advice.

“If you can see smoke or anything else ahead that is going to be challenging find a safe spot to pull over that is the best thing in the world to do,” said Chief Dixon.