A second fatality has resulted from a wreck involving a vehicle that reportedly pulled into the path of a motorcycle on Sept. 10, in unrelated collisions that occurred within a half-hour of each other, according to an Arkansas Department of Public Safety report.
A Royal man died Monday from injuries he received in a three-vehicle wreck on Sept. 10 on Malvern Avenue, according to an Arkansas Department of Public Safety fatality report released Thursday.
Gordon James Ard, 48, of Royal, operating a 2007 Harley-Davidson motorcycle, was eastbound on Malvern shortly before 3:30 p.m. when the driver of a 2000 Nissan Xterra that was westbound on Malvern reportedly made a left turn onto Piper Street, colliding with Ard's motorcycle in the outside eastbound lane.
The right passenger side of the Xterra reportedly collided with the motorcycle's front end. As the Xterra continued onto Piper, it collided with the front of a unknown make or model white SUV that was northbound on Piper Street. The SUV reportedly left the scene before Hot Springs police arrived. The driver of the Xterra was not identified in the report.
Ard and a minor passenger in the Xterra were injured and taken to CHI St. Vincent Hot Springs where Ard died as a result of his injuries on Monday. The report notes road conditions were clear and dry at the time of the wreck.
In the earlier wreck, Hunter Sutherland, 18, of Hot Springs, operating a 1997 Honda 750 motorcycle, was westbound in the inside lane of Airport Road (Highway 70 west) shortly after 4 p.m. Friday when the driver of a 2011 GMC Yukon attempted to turn left onto Airport off Country Walk Terrace.
The driver of the Yukon, who was not identified in the report, reportedly did not see Sutherland and traveled into his path. Sutherland reportedly attempted to avoid the Yukon by veering into the center turn lane, but struck the front of the SUV.
Sutherland was transported to CHI St. Vincent Hot Springs where he was pronounced dead shortly after 5:30 p.m. by Dr. Kenneth Williams.