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Traffic is now moving along Interstate 40 after a horrific crash that sent eight people to the hospital. It happened around one Tuesday afternoon in Prairie County at mile marker 203.
Interstate 40 westbound was closed from Wheatley to Biscoe for four hours and traffic was snarled well into the evening.
Channel Seven's Heather Crawford spoke to a Little Rock man who just barely escaped the crash.
Sam Highsmith says God was his co-pilot Tuesday afternoon when he was on his way back from Alabama. He was fortunate enough not to have gotten a ding on his car--but eight people were injured in the accident including two children.
(Sam Highsmith, witnessed crash)“There were two lighting bolts, one from the left and one from the right side of the highway and all of a sudden literally it just seemed like somebody opened a bucket.”
Sam Highsmith says the rain was so blinding as he drove along Interstate 40 westbound that he and other cars and 18 wheelers were pulling over on the shoulder.
(Highsmith) “As I was doing so I heard a loud boom behind. I looked in my rear view mirror and saw a wall of flames”
State police say a tractor trailer hit a car that was pulled over on the shoulder and that started a chain reaction accident that ended with a massive fire. From the sky and from the ground you can see what Interstate 40 near Brinkley, Arkansas looked like Tuesday afternoon.
Authorities say 6 tractor trailers and two passenger vehicles collided, then a car and van crashed.
Highsmith floored it just in time and got away unscathed.
(Highsmith) “It was strictly reaction. There was no time for action. It was just do it and I just count my blessings in all form and fashion that I'm here talking to you and not involved in that accident.”
State police have not released any of the victim's names but tell us no one has died.
My brother in law Mark has served his country in Iraq on two tours. He has served his country with the highest honor. Now he is in a hospital with 60% of his body burned, and will need weeks if not months of rehab. A man who went to Iraq, twice, for all of us. He deserved better.
If any of the people who did not stop to aid my brother in law are ever in his situation, I hope to GOD someone pulls over to help you in anyway possible. The littlest thing makes all the difference.
Shame on you all who did not goto his OR anyone else involved in the accident.
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