Crash claims life of area man

Rector firemen assess the crash of an 18 wheeler that took the life of a Clay County man Friday, July 17. (Democrat photo/Nancy Kemp) [Click to enlarge]

Rector firemen worked Friday afternoon, July 17, at the scene of a one-vehicle accident near the St. Francis River bridge which took the life of a Clay County man. According to a report by the Arkansas State Police, Ronald Rigdon, 52, of McDougal was traveling south on Highway 90 between the Trammelville curve and the river when the grain truck he was driving left the road at about 1:18 p.m., crashing into a ditch running parallel to the highway. The cause of the accident is yet unclear and no determining factors were listed in a summary on the ASP website. Rigdon was pronounced dead at the scene. Tire marks suggested the truck's right wheels left the road and that Rigdon attempted to steer the 18-wheeler back onto the road and lost control of the vehicle.