Three people are dead following two traffic accidents in Independence County.

Arkansas State Police say 23-year old Juan Rodas Santizo, of Batesville, died in a head-on collision on Highway 69 Friday afternoon at 4:30pm south of Newark.

Police say Santizo was traveling southbound when he crossed the center line and struck the vehicle driven by 39-year old Harold Odom, of Newark, who was injured in the crash.

Authorities say a third vehicle was also involved.

Meanwhile, a second head-on collision on Saturday night at 9:00pm on Highway 167 south of Cave City killed two people and injured three others.

Police say 59-year old Daniel Petty, of Essex, Missouri, was driving southbound on highway 167 and crossed the center line crossing a turning lane and both northbound lanes before striking the vehicle driven by 33-year old Drew Grant, of Jackson, Missouri. Both Petty and Grant were killed.

Injured were 59-year old Kathy Tanner, of Newport, and 29-year old Stephanie Grant, of Jackson, Missouri, and a juvenile.

KAIT reports Drew Grant, who changed his name from Andrew Golden was the 11-year-old, along with another teen, who shot and killed four students and a teacher at Jonesboro Westside Middle School in 1998.