Cold condition's death toll at least 11 in Arkansas
LITTLE ROCK (AP) — The death toll in Arkansas from sub-freezing temperatures or traffic accidents related to icy road conditions stemming from last week's winter storm is at least 11.
Temperatures were balmy in many parts of the state Tuesday, and most remaining patches of ice melted away from major roadways, but the after-effects of last Wednesday's snowfall lingered as late as Monday.
Police reports from the days before Christmas show that at least 10 people died on Arkansas highways after vehicles went out of control on the ice. And at least one more, a Jefferson County woman whose car slid off an ice-slick road, died Monday.
State police accident reports show that that two people died in one accident from the ice and slush of the snowfall on Dec. 22.
William E. Ryburn, 71, of Rison lost control of his vehicle, crossed the center line and hit an oncoming van on U.S. 63 in Cleveland County, north of Woodlawn, during the initial sleet of the storm.
An hour later, Kenneth G. Ferris, 44, of East Greenwood, Ind., and Victor M. Pinto, 42, of Indianapolis, died on Interstate 30 in Caddo Valley when their vehicle crossed the median and was struck by an oncoming vehicle.
Another death happened the next day on I-30 just 4 miles away. Lesly Y. Caballero, 25, of Plainfield, N.J., was ejected from the passenger side of a vehicle that skidded of an icy bridge and landed on top of her.
On the evening of Dec. 22, Barbara Ann Mauldin, 40, of Dierks died when her vehicle went out of control on the ice-covered Little River Bridge of U.S. 71 and collided with a Mack truck.
Four more traffic deaths occurred in three separate incidents on Christmas Eve. Ignacio and Cecilia Gavia of Grand Prairie, Texas, lost control on icy Interstate 30 in Benton, got out of the car and were struck by another vehicle.
Phillip Cameron, 19, of Indianapolis was stopped on the side of Interstate 55 in Crittenden County and outside his vehicle when he was struck and killed by a vehicle that spun off an icy patch.
Richard Laboy, 31, of Jonesboro also died Friday on Arkansas 214 west of Waldenburg when he lost control on the ice and slid into the path of a pickup.
Originally published December 29, 2004