3 killed, 7 hurt in multi-vehicle crashes in Arkansas

Three people were killed and at least seven others injured in separate chain-reaction collisions involving more than a dozen vehicles on an interstate in southwest Arkansas, authorities said.

Arkansas State Police said the first wreck happened about 11:45 p.m. Monday on Interstate 49 near the town of Fouke. A tractor-trailer headed south slowed down and was rear-ended, causing a chain-reaction crash involving 10 vehicles, state police said.

At about the same time, three tractor-trailers collided in the northbound lanes — which are separated from the southbound lanes by a median. State police said one of those trucks was carrying a large amount of glue that has spilled onto the highway.

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Seven people were injured and taken to hospitals in Texarkana. Several others who suffered minor injuries declined hospital care, authorities said. State police said troopers are investigating whether fog may have contributed to the crashes.

The interstate remained closed Tuesday morning and traffic has been detoured onto U.S. 71 as the investigation and cleanup continues.

Fouke is about 160 miles southwest of Little Rock, Ark., and is close to the Texas and Louisiana state lines.

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