EXTRICATION CALLED FOR

A Chaffee woman was extricated from her vehicle after being involved in a two-car accident Thursday evening at the westernmost entrance to the Wal-Mart Supercenter on Route K.

Shortly before 7 p.m., Charlotte A. Dirnberger had stopped in the westbound lane of Route K to make a left turn into Wal-Mart. A truck driven by James E. Garrett, 19, of Benton, slammed into the rear of Dirnberger's sedan, driving it into a nearby sign.

Dirnberger was trapped inside her vehicle for about 20 minutes while firefighters worked to force a rear car door open as a means to gain access without injuring the woman.

Dirnberger, 43, was transported to St. Francis Medical Center where she was treated for minor injuries and released.

Traffic was backed up about a mile in each direction for about 20 minutes, while emergency crews worked at the scene.

The early-evening sun shone directly in the eyes of westbound motorists. Garrett said that he saw the stopped vehicle at the last second, too late to avoid the collision.

Garrett was cited for following too close.