Family members of some of the victims from last week's deadly head-on collision involving two vehicles along U.S. 63 are sharing memories of their loved ones as the last is laid to rest today.

Arkansas State Police Trooper Chuck Wilson reported that a PT Cruiser, driven by Heath Bakken, 28, of Jonesboro was traveling south in the northbound lane of U.S. 63 near the Nestle Road exit on May 27.

Bakken's father, Paul Bakken of Des Moines, Iowa, said his son was a diabetic and had been since the age of 12.

Paul Bakken said he believes his son went into a diabetic seizure and was unaware of his surroundings at the time of the accident.

A 2008 Ford F450 van, which had nine passengers including the driver, was traveling northbound in the inside lane of U.S. 63, Wilson wrote.

The vehicles hit head-on, police said.

ADVERTISEMENT
Bakken and van driver Angela F. Austin, 26, of Trumann died along with Anthony Vaughn, 25, of Jonesboro; Michael E. Lane, 34, of Jonesboro; and Gerald Brown, 56, of Jonesboro.

Injured were Jonathan Vaughn, 29, of Jonesboro; Regina James, 34, of Jonesboro; Steve Farmer, 41, of Jonesboro; Keenan Wilson, 36, of Jonesboro; and Brian Parnell.

Families react

Austin's mother, Rhonda Hutcheson of Trumann, who works at the Jonesboro Goodwill Industries, recalled her daughter's dedication.

"She dearly loved her job and the people she took care of," Hutcheson told The Sun. "She photographed all of them because she thought they were sweet. And she loved her family."

All three of Angela's children have been staying with Hutcheson since their mother's death. Her oldest child turned 6 the Monday before her death. The others are 4 and 1. The younger kids couldn't understand why their mother wouldn't open her eyes the last time they saw her, and the oldest child just got a new book and wants to read it to her mother.

There were more than 300 people at Austin's funeral, which Hutcheson found heartening because she took it as a sign that her daughter was loved. "I'm just so thankful to all the people who sent flowers, money and food," she said.

Austin's husband Luther said she had worked at Focus twice and had deep devotion to those she cared for. She grew up in Trumann and graduated from high school there.

"She loved it. She was also a teacher. She worked with the consumers during the daytime, too. She talked about how the consumers would laugh and cut up. I'd go up and see her at lunch, and they'd talk about her. They like her," he said.

On top of that, Luther applauded his spouse for being a happy-go-lucky type.

"We met in December 2001 through mutual friends, and she's about the best you could find in anybody," he said. "If you couldn't get along with her, there was nobody you could along with. She was just that easygoing. She loved her family, she loved her kids and would do anything for them."

Brown's nephew and guardian, Chris Brown of Paragould, said the situation has been difficult but he maintains fond memories of his uncle.

"He never met a stranger," Brown said, adding that Gerald Brown loved to joke.

"He was big into wearing cowboy boots and a cowboy hat. He loved Western movies," Chris explained. Children in the neighborhood called his uncle "sheriff" and even presented him with a badge because of his prominent presence there.

Special Olympics was a great passion of Gerald's, his nephew said, in that he loved participating in the shotput event and cherished his many medals from competitions. He wore the medals daily, including the day he lost his life.

Chris Brown said the loss had hit Gerald's brother Dennis hardest because the two men lived together at Rosehaven Villa in Jonesboro. Dennis had not gone to school the day of the accident due to being sick.

"He took it hard at first because they'd been together their whole lives," Chris said. "They'd never been separate."

Michael Lane's mother said she would miss having him around as her helper. The 35-year-old often helped with chores around the house.

"I couldn't have asked for a better son," Terria Davison said. "I'm so fortunate to have had him for 35 years."

Davison said Lane never met a stranger, he always had a smile on his face, and he enjoyed Special Olympics, video games, jigsaw puzzles and collecting pens.

He was a nurturer who always made sure others were taken care of. His best friend, Brian Parnell, who was injured in the accident, told Davison that Lane sometimes helped him brush his teeth.

She added that his friends at Finch Baptist Church always laughed about Lane's obsession with desserts.

"One of his passions was desserts, and when we would have our Wednesday night meal, everybody would laugh because if we had six desserts, Michael would have six desserts," she said. "If there were 20 desserts, he would have 20 desserts."

Paul Bakken recently said the accident has been in his family's thoughts.

"It was God's will," Bakken said of his son's death. "It was his day. We just feel horrible that others had to perish with him. Our family is very sorry for the losses to the other families. We hope they understand that he would never do this on purpose. We want those families to know they have our deepest sympathy."

Funerals for all of the victims have taken place except for that of Anthony Vaughn, which is scheduled for today at Fisher Street Church of God in Christ.