LIVE IN FORT SMITH WITH THE LATEST, BRETT. WORKERS FROM THE CORONAVIRUS TESTING SITE HERE AT BEN GEREN PARK RUSHED TO HELP WHEN THEY SAW THE CRASH THIS MORNING. THE TROOPER WHO WAS TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL IS EXPECTED TO BE OK BUT THE DRIVER POLICE WERE CHASING DIED FROM HIS INJURIES. “all I seen was a big black Dodge Ram truck, it looked brand new, hauling and there was like three state troopers on his butt.” (NATS…CARS DRIVING BY) “and just kept going and going and going.” THIS VIDEO, SENT TO US BY A VIEWER, SHOWS THE BLACK TRUCK WITH STATE POLICE CLOSE BEHIND, SPEEDING BY CARS ON HIGHWAY 71, SOUTH OF FORT SMITH. POLICE SAY 34 YEAR OLD JUSTIN BATTENFIELD IS THE DRIVER BEHIND THE WHEEL. IT ALL STARTED THIS MORNING WHEN POLICE SAY A U.S. FOREST SERVICE OFFICER SAW BATTENFIELD IGNORE A STOP LIGHT AS HE DROVE THROUGH THE INTERSECTION ON THE SHOULDER OF THE HIGHWAY. THE CHASE LASTED MORE THAN 20 MILES FROM FORT SMITH TO WITCHERVILLE AND THEN ENDED ON ZERO STREET BACK IN FORT SMITH WHEN A TROOPER PERFORMED A “PIT MANEUVER” ON THE TRUCK TO TRY AND END THE PURSUIT, BUT BOTH VEHICLES CRASHED. YOU CAN SEE THE TRUCK AND THE PATROL CAR UPSIDE DOWN IN THE DITCH IN FRONT OF BEN GEREN PARK. STATE POLICE HAVE NOT SAID WHY THEY THINK THE 34 YEAR OLD DRIVER LED THEM ON THE HIGH SPEED CHASE. THE TROOPER WHO WAS INJURED HAS NOT BEEN NAMED, BUT HE’S SAID TO BE RECOVERING IN A LITTLE ROCK HOSPITAL WITH NON-LIFE THREATENING INJURIES. THE CRASH ALSO CAUSED COVI
ASP: Driver killed after pursuit ends with crash
A state trooper was hurt in a crash near Ben Geren Park in Fort Smith.
A Van Buren driver died after a police pursuit ended in a crash Friday morning, according to Arkansas State Police Public Information Officer, Bill Sadler.Justin Battenfield, 34, died from his injuries after police said Battenfield led them on a 20 mile pursuit that was initiated in Fort Smith.At approximately 6:30 AM, an officer of the U.S. Forest Service initiated a pursuit of a southbound vehicle on U.S. Highway 71. According to Sadler, the officer had witnessed the vehicle fail to stop for a traffic signal and pass through the intersection along the highway shoulder.Just before 7 AM, a State Police trooper tried to stop the truck using a “PIT maneuver”. Both vehicles crashed into a ditch on Zero Street, right across from the COVID testing location at Ben Geren Park in Fort Smith.The trooper was hurt and is recovering in a Little Rock hospital with non-life threatening injuries, Sadler said. The investigation is ongoing.
FORT SMITH, Ark. —
A Van Buren driver died after a police pursuit ended in a crash Friday morning, according to Arkansas State Police Public Information Officer, Bill Sadler.
Justin Battenfield, 34, died from his injuries after police said Battenfield led them on a 20 mile pursuit that was initiated in Fort Smith.
At approximately 6:30 AM, an officer of the U.S. Forest Service initiated a pursuit of a southbound vehicle on U.S. Highway 71. According to Sadler, the officer had witnessed the vehicle fail to stop for a traffic signal and pass through the intersection along the highway shoulder.
Just before 7 AM, a State Police trooper tried to stop the truck using a “PIT maneuver”. Both vehicles crashed into a ditch on Zero Street, right across from the COVID testing location at Ben Geren Park in Fort Smith.
The trooper was hurt and is recovering in a Little Rock hospital with non-life threatening injuries, Sadler said.
The investigation is ongoing.
ASP: Driver killed after pursuit ends with crash
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