Ram pickup goes wrong way on Interstate 30 causing major head-on collision #arkansasstatepolice

Edit July 31, 2026: Report has been released: (Suspect was Malcom Pearce of Hot Springs, AR) On 7/16/2026 at approximately 4:55 p.m. Arkansas State Police, Troop K, dispatch advised of a reckless driver on U.S. Highway 270 that matched the description of a vehicle that had just been in a pursuit with Garland County Sheriff's Office. Troop K dispatch advised the vehicle was last seen inbound toward Hot Spring County passing the old shoe factory. A short time later, Troop K dispatched advised the Rockport Police Department 502 was in pursuit of the suspect vehicle heading toward the city of Malvern. I proceeded to the area to assist due to being the closest ASP unit. As I was traveling down U.S Highway 270 nearing the city limits of Malvern I observed Rockport 502 to be sideways in the highway with significant vehicle damage to his unit, one Malvern PD unit was stopped with him and two other unit were continuing eastbound on U.S. Highway 270. As I approached the 98 on ramp to interstate 30 Malvern PD advised they believed the suspect had got onto Interstate 30 headed westbound. One Malvern PD unit and I continued westbound on interstate 30, as we approached the 95 mile marker I observed a black dodge pickup matching the description of the suspect passing an 18 wheeler on the north shoulder on interstate 30. The Malvern PD unit I was behind let me around them and I was able to catch up to the suspect near the 94 mile marker as I advised Troop K dispatch that I was behind the suspect and in pursuit. We continued westbound on interstate 30 staying at speeds between 95 mph and 111 mph weaving through traffic, as we approached the 90 mile marker westbound I observed a marked ASP unit on the shoulder and I advised him via radio to take the lead and I would take the radio. Tfc. Kemp Smith positioned himself as the lead chase care and as we approached the 91 exit, Tfc. Smith attempted to execute a Tactical Vehicle Intervention (TVI) on the suspect. The TVI was unsuccessful causing the suspect to fish tail before regaining control and exiting interstate 30 onto the 91 exit, towards State Highway 84. I was able to stay behind the suspect as he disregarded the stop sign at the intersection making a right turn onto State Highway 84 now heading back toward the interstate. As we crossed over the interstate bridge the suspect swerved right heading in a west direction crossing into and empty lot that parallels the exit 91 off ramp of interstate 30. The suspect continued in a west direction traveling down the exit 91 eastbound off ramp, I was able to move up on the driver side of the vehicle in an attempt to conduct a TVI on the suspect to prevent him from entering onto interstate 30 in the wrong direction, the suspect swerved away from me causing him to lose control of the vehicle. The suspect vehicle began sliding sideways and traveling through the grassy gore off the south side of interstate 30, and into the eastbound outside lane. As the suspect entered the traffic lane the front of the vehicle collided into the side of a flatbed trailer of a passing 18- wheeler, the suspect vehicle rotated off of the semi trailer coming to rest facing in a southwest direction in the middle of interstate 30. Pursuing units were able to safely get the interstate shut down and the suspect was removed from the vehicle and taken into custody, medical arrived on scene to evaluate the suspect. Malvern PD transported the suspect to the Baptist Health Medical Center, in Malvern AR, who sustained only minor injuries. The suspect was cleared by the Hospital a short time later and transported to the Hot Spring County Detention Facility for booking procedures