News anchor Matt Turner dies

— A Little Rock television news anchor died Saturday night after his car left the road and struck a concrete fixture west of Benton.

Matt Turner, 32, of 266 River Ridge Point in Little Rock, was westbound on Interstate 30 near the 111 mile marker about 7:30 p.m. when his 2004 Chevrolet Tahoe went off the right side of the interstate, according to Arkansas State Police.

The vehicle came to a stop after it struck a “concrete base” of a highway sign and then caught fire.

Turner recently moved to Little Rock when he took an evening news anchor position with KTHV-TV, Channel 11 on Aug. 17, according to the station’s website. He started anchoring in September.

The Arkadelphia native and former Ouachita Baptist University quarterback previously worked at the Northwest Arkansas area’s NBC affiliate, KNWA.

According to an earlier statement from KTHV news director Chuck Maulden, Turner has hosted debates for senate and congressional races as well as anchored and reported throughout the state.

A statement from the station said he was a dedicated journalist and Arkansan.

“Those that knew him best say he was a great husband, dad, son brother and friend,” the statement said. “He genuinely cared for others.”

Turner is survived by his wife Julee, his daughter Preslee, his mother Lisa and brother Andy, according to KTHV.

Arkansas, Pages 14 on 10/08/2012

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