State troopers and Bryant police arrested the driver of a U-Haul pickup that struck at least two cars and seriously injured a woman early Thursday afternoon.
Marcus Dorsey, 39, was arrested at a Bryant apartment complex not long after witnesses spotted him strike, and then drag, a 20-year-old pedestrian who was walking through the parking lot of the Alcoa Road Target store about 1:15 p.m.
Bryant Police Department spokesman Sgt. Todd Crowson said Dorsey was charged with felony leaving the scene of an accident with injury as well as first-degree battery, and more charges could be filed. Dorsey was not listed on the Saline County jail's roster late Thursday.
The woman, whom police have not identified other than saying she is from the Benton area, "sustained severe injuries" and was airlifted to a local hospital, Crowson said.
The crashes began about 1 p.m. on Interstate 30, according to state police officials, when Dorsey's U-Haul pickup struck a vehicle in a westbound lane.
A spokesman with the Arkansas State Police said there were two vehicles struck, but Bryant police said there may have been a third. No injuries were reported.
Crowson said Dorsey's truck exited at Alcoa Road, approached the shopping complex and sped through the parking lots.
"He was flying across the lot," Crowson said. "Then there was this girl walking across the crosswalk, and he hit her. Never checked up. Never slowed down."
Crowson said crash investigators estimate the impact threw the woman 30 feet.
The truck then dragged the victim another 38 feet, according to Crowson, who said he was under the impression that the victim was not conscious when paramedics reached her.
The truck kept going, Crowson said, but a loss prevention officer at the Target who was standing near his car saw it happen, hopped into his own vehicle and gave chase.
Crowson said the Target employee called police while he followed Dorsey into The Greens at Hurricane Creek apartment complex.
State police detained and handed Dorsey over to Bryant police.
Crowson said he didn't know whether Dorsey was under the influence of drugs or alcohol but said he was told that Dorsey had submitted to a blood test.
As of Thursday night, the condition of the woman was unknown, according to police.
The crash remains under investigation.
Metro on 08/22/2014