A driver who led a trooper on a high-speed chase was killed Friday morning as his pickup hit a guardrail and fell into a creek at Interstate 30 near Otter Creek, authorities say.
Eastbound traffic was at a near standstill after the early morning accident.
The crash happened after a pursuit that began near Mile Marker 121 when an Arkansas State Police trooper began tracking the dark-colored Ford pickup because the tags didn't match up. It was later verified to have been stolen. The license plate number appears to be 767 PAN.
"He definitely knew he was being pursued," said Sgt. Mark Johnson of the ASP. "He was taking a lot of evasive action."
Johnson later elaborated that the driver was passing cars and going at a high rate of speed, although he was unsure how fast those speeds got. Between Stagecoach Road and Vimy Ridge Road, the driver then lost control of the pickup, which was carrying a motorcycle in its bed.
Reports from the scene show firefighters and authorities climbing down to the truck and motorcycle in water surrounded by thick foliage.
The driver was described as a black man, but he was not carrying any identification on him, authorities said. He was confirmed dead at the scene.
The eastbound service road has been shut down and it is expected to stay closed for a long time, according to authorities.