Brookland, AR – Jonesboro Right Now – Arkansas State Police (ASP) said that a Brookland woman was killed, and three others were injured in a two-vehicle collision in Craighead County Saturday night.
The crash occurred at approximately 10 p.m. Oct. 10 at the intersection of U.S. Highway 49 and School Street.
According to ASP’s fatal crash summary, a 2002 Chevrolet Suburban, driven by 44-year-old Jamie Michelle Barrett, of Brookland, was traveling eastbound on School Street, attempting to cross the intersection.
A 2013 Toyota RAV 4, driven by 44-year-old Mindy Huffman, of Brookland, was traveling northbound on Highway 49 and ran a red light, striking the Suburban.
ASP said Jamie was killed in the collision as a result.
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Two passengers in the Suburban, 50-year-old Jimmy Barrett and 18-year-old Jaylen Barrett, both of Brookland, were injured, along with Huffman. The three individuals were taken to NEA Baptist Hospital in Jonesboro for treatment.
The accident occurred two days before the Brookland School Board voted unanimously Monday night to formally declare the crossing “a dangerous intersection.” The board’s resolution aligned with an identical declaration passed by the City of Brookland in August.
| READ MORE: Brookland School Board Approves Resolution Declaring Highway 49 and School Street ‘Dangerous’
Leaders are specifically requesting that the Arkansas Department of Transportation (ARDOT) implement a split-phase traffic signal, which would provide protected left-turn arrows rather than the current configuration that forces drivers to yield across oncoming traffic.
Following Monday’s vote, Brookland Superintendent George Kennedy told JRN that the push for safety improvements had gained renewed urgency and confirmed the weekend collision had directly affected a district family.
“We had already planned this before the accident, but there have been several fatal accidents there this year, so it is very important,” Kennedy said. “We would rather a child be late to school or a parent late to pick up their child, but safe getting to school, than risking a life.”
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