Allison Burke Killed in Little Rock Car Accident
Westbound vehicle crossed center line on Lawson Road, striking 26-year-old's car
Allison Burke, 26, was killed in a two-vehicle crash on Lawson Road in Little Rock on Aug. 26, according to the Little Rock Police Department.
The westbound vehicle failed to negotiate a curve, crossed the center line and struck the eastbound car on its left side. Both vehicles careened off the road and stopped in an embankment. Paramedics with Metropolitan Emergency Medical Services transported the eastbound driver, Burke, to a local hospital. She later died from multiple internal injuries. The 44-year-old driver of the westbound vehicle suffered minor injuries and was also taken to the hospital.
Investigators collected a urine sample from the surviving driver for toxicology testing at the state crime laboratory.
The department's Reconstruction Unit impounded both vehicles as the investigation continues.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 596 people died in motor vehicle traffic crashes in Arkansas in 2023.
The sudden loss of a family member in a motor vehicle collision leaves relatives navigating both grief and complex administrative processes.
Candice Bond, managing partner at Bond Legal, said, "Vehicle weight disparities in two-vehicle collisions produce disproportionate structural damage and severe physical trauma. Reconstruction engineers study mass ratios, velocity changes, and structural crush patterns of involved automobiles."
"Legal counsel aids surviving families by identifying multiple insurance coverage sources, coordinating expert testimony, and safeguarding financial stability," added Bond, who is also a national legal analyst for Accident News.
What factors do investigators examine in cross-centerline collisions?
When a driver fails to negotiate a curve and crosses into oncoming traffic, reconstruction units analyze tire marks, vehicle data recorders, and toxicology results to determine why the vehicle left its lane.
Arkansas wrongful death statute
Under Ark. Code § 16-62-102, surviving family members may file a wrongful death action. The state applies modified comparative fault (50% bar). The statute of limitations for wrongful death claims is 3 years.
Recoverable damages may include loss of financial support, loss of companionship and consortium, funeral and burial expenses, and the decedent's pre-death pain and suffering.
"Head-on two-vehicle collisions produce immense physical impact forces that demand precise crash reconstruction analysis. Investigators measure vehicle crush depth, inspect brake line integrity, and document road surface scuff marks," said Stefano Formica, of counsel at Bond Legal.
Formica, who is also a national legal analyst for Accident News, noted, "A legal team supports affected families by coordinating independent forensic inspections, reviewing motor vehicle insurance policies, and protecting family interests."