December 19, 2023

Today at approximately 11:50 a.m., a 43-year-old West Memphis man died as a result of injuries he sustained in a wreck following a high-speed pursuit on eastbound Interstate 40 near the 284-mile marker.

An ASP Trooper assisting a drug task force in West Memphis pursued the fleeing suspect, who was wanted on multiple felony warrants. The trooper was preparing to perform a TVI when the suspect, who was driving 140 mph, suddenly applied his brakes, causing a collision. The suspect’s vehicle came to rest at the bottom of an embankment beyond the south shoulder.

“The suspect was driving recklessly and putting the public in extreme danger by driving at high speeds, passing on the shoulder, and almost running other vehicles off the roadway,” said ASP Col. Mike Hagar. “Although we regret any loss of life, we thank God our Trooper and other motorists were not injured.”

The incident is under investigation by ASP’s Criminal Investigation Division.