An early morning wreck on Hwy. 167 south of Batesville (known locally as the viaduct) sent one man to the hospital as the vehicle in which he was a passenger, traveling 688 ft. off the highway, before coming to rest after a number of rolls.
Independence County deputies were called out around 5:40 a.m. Saturday, May 26, to the one-vehicle accident. Deputy Zach Spohr, in his preliminary report, said the driver of the 2018 Kia Sportage was 30-year-old Brian E. See with a Quitman, Ark., address.
Spohr said the Sportage was traveling south on 167 when it went off the highway and traveled the 688 ft. before coming to a rest.
See said he was going to a meeting in Heber Springs and stated he did not remember what happened.
Spohr said See refused to complete a statement, saying he was “still shook up” and did not know what to write.
Spohr said there were no brake marks on the highway indicating the brakes were not applied. The deputy also did not find skid marks down the ditch line leading to the fence or after the fence. Deputy Spohn said he was unable to tell exactly how many times the vehicle rolled over, but it very likely rolled several times.
The passenger, 33-year-old Douglas Acklin of Sandtown Road in Independence County, was ejected from the vehicle and suffered an incapacitating injury. He was taken by ambulance to the hospital. There was no word on his condition, as of this morning.
The vehicle was a total loss, and there was $1,000 damage to fences owned by Harmon Farms, the company that farms the Ramsey Bottoms.
See was cited for driving on a suspended driver’s license and failure to maintain control of his vehicle.
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