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Crystal Gale Buswell, a high school math teacher, was killed in a dump truck accident in south Fort Smith. The 31-year-old from Greenwood taught Geometry and Algebra at Alma High School for six years, and taught in the Ozark School District for two years before that.
Buswell was driving a 2013 Ford Escape southwest on Chad Colley Boulevard shortly after 4:00 p.m. when she failed to yield to a dump truck. The dump truck, driven by 73-year old James Austin, was heading northwest on Massard Road, according to a report from the Arkansas State Police. Eyewitnesses told police that Buswell ran a stop sign and the dump truck crashed into the driver side door. It is not believed that Austin, who did not sustain any injuries, will face charges in the crash because police acknowledge that it seems he had no way to prevent the accident.
"He was clear to go right on through and of course he was completely loaded down with dirt, so those big heavy dump trucks, they don't stop very easily," said Cpl. Michael Moss with the Fort Smith Police Department.
Alma High School's students and faculty are now mourning the loss of their beloved teacher. They school set up a page on their website that allows the community to leave their thoughts and prayers for Buswell's family, colleagues and students.
"We've got some great kids here," said Nancy Rhodes, the Math and Science Curriculum Specialist at Alma High School. "And again, it's like family for them too. So they've written down some stories that they're going to share with her family, but they've talked with one another too."
Our hearts go out to the friends, family and students of Crystal Buswell.