Accident on Highway 181 Claims Lives of Mackenzie Marie Risner and Jan Sebastiaan Rabie | Mississippi County
Two people were killed and two others injured when smoke from a nearby field fire caused a multi-vehicle collision on Highway 181 in Mississippi County, Arkansas, on October 3, 2025. Learn how Arkansas wrongful death claims work. Call 501-838-4043.
ARKANSAS ACCIDENT NEWS
Arkansas wrongful death law after a head-on collision
Arkansas’s wrongful death statute allows families to recover damages for funeral expenses, loss of support, and companionship. Families must generally file within three years of the date of death.
A survival action may also allow recovery for medical costs and pain experienced prior to death.
Why head-on crashes demand detailed investigation
Head-on collisions often stem from lane departures, distracted driving, or driver impairment. Attorneys investigate police reports, crash reconstruction, skid mark analysis, and vehicle data to determine liability. Acting quickly helps secure critical evidence.
Arkansas wrongful death attorneys serving Garland County
At Ludwig Law Firm, our wrongful death lawyers prepare every wrongful death case as though it will be tried before a jury. We fight to hold negligent drivers accountable and support grieving families through the legal process. In complex cases, we also partner with trial lawyers like Harry Warden of Warden Law Firm, ensuring Arkansas families be
Our Wrongful Death Lawyers Can Help
We are available to help any family with wrongful death matters in Arkansas. call 501-838-4043 or visit ludwiglawfirm.com. We fight for full accountability after tragic accidents.
Disclaimer
The information provided in this blog is for general informational purposes only and is not intended as legal advice. Reading this blog or interacting with Ludwig Law Firm through this content does not create an attorney-client relationship. Every legal case is different, and you should not act or rely on any information in this blog without first consulting with a licensed attorney about your specific situation. For legal guidance tailored to your needs, please contact Ludwig Law Firm directly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Who can bring a wrongful death claim in Arkansas?
A. Usually the personal representative or statutory beneficiaries named by law.
Q. How long do families have to file?
A. Three years from the date of death, unless an exception applies.
Q. Does a survival action differ from wrongful death?
A. Yes. A survival action belongs to the estate and recovers damages the deceased could have claimed if they had survived.
RURAL MISSISSIPPI COUNTY, Ark—Two dead, two injured in multi-vehicle crash caused by smoke on Highway 181
A tragic chain-reaction crash on Highway 181 near County Road 650 claimed two lives and injured two others on October 3, 2025, according to the Arkansas State Police.
Arkansas State Police reported that smoke from a nearby field fire blew across the highway. A 2018 GMC Terrain (V2) struck a 2012 Kenworth (V1), causing the GMC to veer into a ditch. Moments later, a 2005 Kenworth (V3) collided with V1, igniting a fire and pushing it into a 2022 Ford F-250 (V4).
A separate impact occurred when V5 was rear-ended by another vehicle (V6), sending both into a ditch and striking the burning wreckage.
Fatalities:
Mackenzie Marie Risner, 21, of Manila (driver of V2, GMC Terrain)
Jan Sebastiaan Rabie, 32, of Brookland (driver of V3, Kenworth)
Injured:
Olivia Palmer, 21, of Keiser (driver of V5)
Keri Palmer, 43, of Keiser (passenger in V5)
Both injured individuals were transported to SMC Regional Medical Center. The victims’ bodies were held at Delancy Funeral Home.
Note: Crash summaries provided by Arkansas State Police are preliminary and may be updated as investigations continue.
Crash Summary
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