Truck smashed & driver knocked UNCONSCIOUS during Arkansas State Police PIT Maneuver

Report: On April 18th, 2026, at approximately 1:28 am, I, Trooper Wright #574, attempted a traffic stop on a tan GMC pickup truck for expired tags and reasonable suspicion of criminal activity. I observed the vehicle driving for approximately 20 seconds at an average speed of 15- 17 mph in a 45-mile-per-hour zone before pulling to the right shoulder to pick up an individual who was coming from a fenced-in area with closed businesses. I saw the passenger reach down and pick something up off the ground before approaching the vehicle. As he reached the passenger door, I turned my take-down, white lights on to get a better view. The passenger looked directly at my vehicle before getting in the vehicle, at which point I observed the expired license plate tab on the plate, and I initiated my blue flashing lights. The driver of the vehicle spun tires attempting to flee, at which point I initiated my siren as well. The vehicle continued accelerating and merged onto Interstate-55 southbound at the 3-mile marker. I turned on my spotlight and placed it in the driver’s side mirror as he was alternating between braking, accelerating, and swerving, but the vehicle was heavily overburdened by objects in the vehicle and was sluggish in its maneuvers. We were approaching a bobtail semi that appeared to be disabled and was partially in the right lane of traffic, so I backed off until we passed the vehicle. Once we passed the disabled vehicle, I moved in to conduct a TVI. The driver appeared to barely have control of his vehicle, and as we were approaching more traffic ahead, I did not want to put those motorists at risk. I conducted a TVI near the 2-mile marker, spinning the vehicle to the right off the roadway. When the vehicle entered the grass and the downhill slope, the right rear tire deflated, and the rim dug into the grass, causing the vehicle to roll one time and come to rest upright on its wheels facing southbound. I could see movement in the vehicle behind a shattered windshield, and I began giving orders to the occupants. I kept calling out to the driver to show me his hands, but I was getting no response. I occasionally would get a response from the passenger and momentarily see his hands out the passenger window. I initially asked if he was able to exit the vehicle, but I did not receive a response. I asked where the driver was and received no response. Other officers arrived on the scene to assist. I saw the passenger attempting to crawl out of the passenger side window and I went ahead and told him to crawl out. I reached out via radio to the other officers and advised them that the passenger had crawled out of the vehicle and was lying on the ground, but I was unable to see the driver. At which point, they began pushing up to the vehicle and clearing it. The passenger was secured in handcuffs as another officer cleared the cab of the vehicle from the passenger’s side. We began searching the immediate area for the driver, as he was not seen from the passenger’s side. I chose to double-check the cab of the vehicle and located the driver slumped over from the driver’s seat to behind the passenger’s seat. The passenger's seat was not bolted down and was little better than a lawn chair inside the vehicle. The driver was unconscious, but breathing, and medical services were immediately called for both occupants. Both occupants were transported to Regional One Hospital. There was no passenger seatbelt, and the driver was not wearing one. Upon search of the vehicle and debris field, I located a blue bag that had a pill bottle with the label scratched off, containing two round blue pills displaying RP on one side and 10 325 on the other. According to Pill Identifier, is an Acetaminophen and Oxycodone Hydrochloride a schedule 2 controlled substance. The pills are being sent to the crime lab for testing. The driver, James England, is being charged with: 5-54-125(d)(1): FLEEING - VEHICLE OR CONVEYANCE 27-37-702: NO SEATBELT 27-14-306: FICTITIOUS TAGS 27-14-701: OWNER FAIL TO REGISTER VEHICLE - EXPIRED TAGS 5-64-419(b)(2)(A): POSSESS CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE SCHED I, II EXCLUDING METH COCAINE - 2G 5-64-443(e): POSSESS DRUG PARAPHERNALIA NOT METH COCAINE 27-51-104: CARELESS AND PROHIBITED DRIVING The passenger, William Logsdon, is being charged with: 5-64-419(b)(2)(A): POSSESS CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE SCHED I, II EXCLUDING METH COCAINE - 2G 27-37-702: NO SEATBELT 5-64-443(e): POSSESS DRUG PARAPHERNALIA NOT METH COCAINE My vehicle sustained no damage. The fleeing vehicle sustained extensive damage; the roof of the cab was caved in from rolling.