DPS Confirms Death of Woman Involved in Friday Car Crash

Department of Public Safety Trooper Shawn Baxter has confirmed the death of 38-year-old Christy Louella Arendt following a high speed collision on Highway 277 just north of Christoval Friday night.

Arendt, a registered nurse at Community Hospital, was the driver of a black SUV involved in the two-vehicle crash. Having sustained incapacitating injuries, Arendt was airlifted to Shannon Medical Center in critical condition, where Baxter said she was pronounced brain dead. 

“When we called for confirmation they told us she was alive. That was because they were waiting on organ donation,” said Baxter. “By the afternoon on Saturday she was pronounced dead.”

Michael Bell, the driver of the second vehicle, a Dodge Ram 2500, was pronounced dead on scene of the crash Friday by Justice of the Peace Kay Longest.