Highway 79 Temporarily Closed After Head-on Crash

An 18-wheeler traveling southbound crossed the center line near Buncombe Road and hit a Chevy Silverado truck head-on. The Chevy truck was pulling another vehicle on a trailer. The vehicle on the trailer came off and  hit a vehicle that was traveling behind the Chevy pickup. After impact, the 18-wheeler crashed in the woods. 

The driver of the Chevy was airlifted to University Health. His name has not been released. The driver of the 18-wheeler has been identified as 52-year-old Stephen Marvel of Marion, Ark. He also went to University Health. The occupants of the third vehicle were not injured.  

Officials closed Hwy. 79 from Bethany-State Line Road to Locust Hill Road while they investigated the accident.

The highway was reopened after the accident was cleared.