Collision Is Fatal

A head-on collision on Highway 14 East near the county line in Independence County took the life of a local man and injured four others just after noon on New Year’s Eve.

Adalberto Diaz, 57, of Mountain View was the passenger in a 1999 Honda van that was traveling east on Highway 14 when the van collided with a westbound 2017 GMC Yukon Denali (shown above). According to a preliminary report filed by State Police Trooper Christopher Barnett, it was rainy and the roadway was wet just before 12:30 p.m. when the collision occurred.

The Honda was driven by Mareesa Diaz, 37, who was airlifted from the scene and was treated for serious injuries, according to a source who was at the scene.

The GMC was driven by Martha Alejandra Jasso, 31, of Batesville, with her husband, Cecilio Jasso, 53, and two children, ages 15 months and 4 as passengers.

Alejandra Jasso, who owns the Mi Pueblito restaurants in Mountain View and other towns, told the Leader Diaz was going “from one side of the road to the other,” and that she had attempted to swerve to avoid hitting the van. The Jasso family was transported to White River Medical Center. The youngest child was then airlifted to Arkansas Children’s Hospital. Alejandra and Cecilio both were treated for injuries. The 4-year-old was not injured.

Jasso said all family members were home and some would require physical therapy.

The preliminary report did not indicate which vehicle was at fault or if citations were pending.