Coroner: woman died of blunt force trauma

The Bella Vista woman killed in an April traffic accident died from blunt force trauma to her skull, according to the Benton County Coroner.

Sheila Rittgers, 57, died April 9 due to multiple skull fractures, Coroner Daniel Oxford said last week. Rittgers' vehicle veered off Highlands Boulevard and overturned in a ravine, according to an accident report from Arkansas State Police.

Rittgers was driving south in her 2015 Dodge Ram at approximately 2 p.m. near Lockhart Drive, according to the report. Her truck eventually came to a stop about 60 feet down in a ravine and 100 feet from the road.

Oxford said Rittgers was wearing a seat belt before the crash and state police noted that road conditions were dry.

Rittgers' truck sustained severe damage. The front of the truck was destroyed and the roof was smashed, indicating that it overturned several times before coming to a stop. A motorist noticed the truck in the ravine and alerted authorities, according to Bella Vista Police dispatch logs.

Alcohol may have been a factor in the accident, Oxford said. Rittgers' blood-alcohol level was 0.24 -- three times the legal limit, he added. In Arkansas, drivers 21 and over can be charged with driving while intoxicated if they have a 0.08 percent blood alcohol concentration or higher, according to the state Department of Motor Vehicles. Drivers under 21 -- the legal drinking age -- can be charged with DWI if their BAC is .02 percent or higher.

Bella Vista Police has concluded its investigation of the cause of the accident, according to Chief Ken Farmer. The department forwarded the case to the Benton County Prosecution Attorney's Office for further review, Farmer said.

General News on 05/27/2015