UPDATE: I-30 crash victims identified, police looking for person who fled deadly scene

FULTON, Arkansas — The Arkansas State Police (ASP) is investigating a series of early morning wrecks that occurred along Interstate 30 westbound between Hope and Fulton, resulting in the deaths of three individuals and several injuries.

At approximately 1 a.m. on Monday, July 21, Arkansas State Troopers responded to a fatal hit-and-run collision near the 18-mile marker of I-30. The victim, Jonathan Gary Williams, 44, of Sherwood, was working as an Arkansas Department of Transportation contractor at the time of the incident. Williams was operating from a specialized trailer, applying reflectors to the roadway center line, when he was struck and killed by a 2004 Buick Century. The driver of the Buick fled the scene on foot and has not yet been located.

At around 2:15 a.m., Troopers responded to a second, two-vehicle collision near the 19-mile marker, which resulted in minor injuries. The drivers involved were treated at the scene.

A third collision occurred near the 20-mile marker westbound, involving three tractor-trailers and a pickup truck. Passengers of the pickup, Jonathan Garcia, 25, and Javier Rivera, 61, both of Hope, were pronounced dead at the scene. The driver and another passenger of the pickup were transported to nearby hospitals with serious injuries.

The westbound lanes of I-30 between Hope and Fulton were temporarily closed to allow for investigation and cleanup. One westbound lane reopened at approximately 9 a.m., and all lanes reopened around noon.

ASP urges all drivers to exercise extreme caution in work zones and to report any information that may assist in these ongoing investigations.

Original headline and article are below:

Separate I-30 collisions kill 3, stall traffic for hours in Hempstead County

FULTON, Arkansas — Multiple wrecks on Interstate 30 in Hempstead County claimed three lives and disrupted traffic for hours on Monday, July 21, 2025.

Arkansas State Police said in a release that three wrecks on the westbound lane between Hope and Fulton claimed the same number of lives, although one of the accidents wasn’t deadly. Early Monday the agency cautioned motorists to avoid that section of the interstate and to use U.S. Highway 67 as significant delays were expected. Westbound traffic flow was impacted throughout the morning from mile markers 31 to 18.

At approximately 1 a.m., a collision occurred on I-30 west near the 18-mile marker in Fulton. An Arkansas Department of Transportation contractor in a specialized trailer was applying reflectors along the center of the roadway when he was struck and killed by a 2004 Buick Century. The driver of the Buick fled the scene on foot and is still at large.

A second, two-vehicle collision occurred at about 2:15 a.m. near the 19-mile marker westbound, resulting in minor injuries.

A third collision occurred near the 20-mile marker westbound, involving three tractor trailers and a pickup truck.  Two people were killed and another two were seriously injured.

Westbound traffic is being diverted at the 30-mile marker in Hope until further notice.