Couple killed in weekend accident

Wednesday, April 7, 2010

— Two Gentry residents were killed when a pickup truck crossed the center line and hit their motorcycles head-on Saturday evening.

James A. Swearingen, 32, and Lori Swearingen, 41, were both killed when a southbound Dodge pickup truck driven by Darrell J. Bennish, 57, of Winslow, crossed the center line of U.S. Highway 71, north of Winslow, just before 6 p.m., according to a release from the Arkansas State Police. The Swearingens were returning to Gentry from Van Buren, the release states.

The pickup truck driven by Bennish also struck two other motorcycles traveling with the Swearingens. Keith Sexon, 53, of Gentry, and a passenger, Taylor Mareth, 13, of Lowell, were injured when Sexon’s motorcycle was struck. A fourth motorcycle, driven by Paul Hatch, 49, of Fayetteville, skidded to stop on its side, but was also struck, according to the release.

Sexon and Mareth were transported by helicopter to Washington Regional Hospital. Hatch and Benish were transported by ambulance to Washington Regional. Hatch was treated and released, according to the release.

All but one rider had been treated and released by Monday afternoon. Motorcyclist Keith Sexon of Gentry remained in fair condition at Washington Regional Medical Center.

The injured passenger, Taylor Mareth, is Lori Swearingen’s daughter.

Charges against pickup driver Darrell Benish were still pending Monday, according to Arkansas State Police.

Other accidents

Two other area residents were killed in two separate motorcycle accidents over the weekend.

On Sunday morning, Ronald Greene, 59, of West Fork died after his motorcycle was hit by a car while turning from Joyce Boulevard onto Crossover Road in Fayetteville. Two people in the car were hurt. One driver apparently ran a red light, but no ticket was issued to the car’s driver, said Cpl. Rick Crisman of the Fayetteville Police Department.

Sunday evening, Kenneth Poe of Bella Vista died after his motorcycle crossed the center line on Arkansas 340 in Bella Vista and slid into a minivan. The driver of the van was hurt.

The accidents were the first fatal wrecks involving motor-cycles in Northwest Arkansas this year.

Police didn’t just respond to motorcycle accidents. Springdale officer Mike Harrison remains hospitalized after wrecking his motorcycle on Arkansas 23 in Madison County over the weekend, said Sgt. Shane Pegram of the department.

News, Pages 1 on 04/07/2010