Icy roads contribute to roll-over accident

Police Photo by Scott Gillming Though pretty much hidden from view, a Gravette rescue worker reaches into the smashed cab of a pickup truck to assist the driver, following an accident in which the eastbound truck left the roadway and rolled on its descent to the bottom of Old Town Park on Sunday, Feb. 2.
Police Photo by Scott Gillming Though pretty much hidden from view, a Gravette rescue worker reaches into the smashed cab of a pickup truck to assist the driver, following an accident in which the eastbound truck left the roadway and rolled on its descent to the bottom of Old Town Park on Sunday, Feb. 2.

Injured driver was freed from the wreckage and transported to Northwest Medical Center, Bentonville.

GRAVETTE -- A Bentonville man was injured Sunday morning, Feb. 2, when the vehicle he was driving left ice-covered Highway 72 east in Gravette and plunged into Old Town Park.

Dan J. Dykema was listed as the driver of an eastbound pickup when it careened across the pavement and plunged down the steep embankment, finally coming to rest in the creek bed at the bottom of the park.

The accident, which occurred about 10:45 a.m., trapped the lone occupant inside the smashed cab. After he was extricated by Gravette rescue personnel, he was transported to Northwest Medical Center in Bentonville.

Gravette officer Scott Gillming, who investigated the accident, indicated that after the pickup left the highway it rolled and finally came to rest in the creek bed. Icy pavement and traveling too fast for conditions contributed to the accident, according to the accident report.

Because of its location and the icy condition in the park, it was some time before the vehicle was moved from the scene.

General News on 02/12/2014