An accident near the Pontoon community in southwest Conway County claimed the life of a 51-year-old Russellville man, according to the Petit Jean Country Headlight.
Petit Jean State Park Ranger Mike Decker said John E. Jehlen Jr. was driving his Ford 1/2-ton pickup up a steep incline on Locke Lane, east of Highway 247, towing a 16-foot trailer loaded with a small farm tractor when the rear wheels of the truck lost traction and spun down in loose gravel.
To free the truck, Jehlen, after placing the truck's gear in the park position, climbed on the farm tractor and was attempting to back it off the trailer when the shifted weight of the tractor lifted the rear wheels of the pickup enough to allow the truck to begin sliding backwards.
The truck and trailer slid about 40 to 50 feet down the hill.
The trailer jackknifed against the truck, sliding partway over a bluff, causing the tractor to fall from the trailer and tumble down the bluff. Jehlen was thrown from the tractor, and the tractor rolled over him before coming to a stop about 40 to 50 feet down the bluff.
Ranger Decker, the first officer to arrive on the scene, said he was not able to detect any vital signs. Also responding to the scene were other park personnel, the Petit Jean Fire District rescue team, Med-Tech Ambulance and Conway County Coroner Richard Neal.
Jehlen's wife, who was in the truck, was not injured.
