Truck driver in logs wreck charged, held

He faces 18 felony counts in Clinton crash fatal to 2

Jerry L. Hickman, 39, of Bee Branch was charged in Van Buren County Circuit Court in Clinton with two counts of negligent homicide, 10 counts of first-degree battery and six counts of second-degree battery.
Jerry L. Hickman, 39, of Bee Branch was charged in Van Buren County Circuit Court in Clinton with two counts of negligent homicide, 10 counts of first-degree battery and six counts of second-degree battery.

The man who was driving a logging truck that crashed near a bridge in Clinton and spilled its load, killing two construction workers and injuring nearly 20 others, was charged Wednesday with 18 felony offenses after authorities said they learned that he had been using methamphetamine.

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Jerry L. Hickman, 39, of Bee Branch was charged in Van Buren County Circuit Court in Clinton with two counts of negligent homicide, 10 counts of first-degree battery and six counts of second-degree battery.

Hickman was free on probation for methamphetamine possession when the wreck occurred on the afternoon of June 2, Prosecuting Attorney Cody Hiland of the 20th Judicial Circuit said.

The wreck occurred near the Archey Creek bridge as Hickman was traveling south on U.S. 65 and approaching Arkansas 16 when the Peterbilt TTL he was driving had a blowout on the left rear of its trailer, the Arkansas State Police said at the time.

The truck's load shifted, causing the trailer to overturn and spill logs onto the bridge and roadway. The logs then struck construction workers at a bridge-widening project.

Judge Charles "Ed" Clawson presided over a probation-revocation hearing for Hickman on Wednesday and set bail at $250,000.

Each count of negligent homicide is punishable by five to 20 years in prison. Each count of first-degree battery is punishable by the same, and each count of second-degree battery is punishable by up to six years in prison, Hiland said.

The court appointed Clinton attorney Ralph Blagg as a public defender for Hickman, who remained jailed late Wednesday. Blagg said he had just gotten the case and didn't have enough facts to comment on it.

An affidavit accompanying the charges against Hickman noted that Hickman was "navigating a downhill grade" and lost control of the independently owned truck as he entered a curve to his right.

"The trailer began to roll over onto the driver's side forcing the tractor to roll over also," the affidavit signed by Cpl. Donald Stringer of the state police continued. "As the trailer crossed the lane dividing line, the load broke free from the trailer and most of the logs became airborne. The logs spilled onto the northbound lane of [U.S.] 65, onto the new bridge and into the water. As the logs struck the new bridge, they also struck the workers that were unable to get out of the [logs'] path.

"The Arkansas Crime Lab tested Mr. Hickman's blood and those results were positive for Methamphetamines," the report added. "[City] Officer [Scott Solomon's] description of Mr. Hickman's behavior resembles a person that is intoxicated."

The toxicology report that authorities later obtained put the methamphetamine content in Hickman's blood at 0.54. He suffered minor injuries.

According to the felony document charging Hickman, "A person commits negligent homicide if he or she negligently causes the death of another person, not constituting murder or manslaughter, as a result of operating a vehicle while intoxicated."

If Hickman is released on bond, his location will be monitored electronically, he will have drug screenings, he cannot leave Arkansas and he cannot operate a motor vehicle, Hiland said.

State Desk on 09/04/2014

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