A high-speed chase left one dead and another injured on Friday, March 8. According to the Arkansas State Police, the crash happened at 5:18 p.m.
Kelvin Willis, 32 of Alma, was traveling northbound in a 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe on U.S. Highway 71 near Highway 45 at a high rate of speed. Willis then exited the roadway to the left, colliding with a pole at the intersection of Highway 71 and Highway 45.
Willis was pronounced dead at the scene. One of the passengers, Braxton Cole, 30 of Fort Smith, was transported to the hospital with injuries.
According to Greenwood Police Chief Brad Hobbs, the high-speed chase began when one of his officers attempted to make a traffic stop.
“On the evening of Friday, March 8, our officers intercepted a stolen vehicle. A traffic stop was attempted. However, the driver of the vehicle fled at high speeds. As the pursuit was being transferred to the Arkansas State Police, the driver of the vehicle left the roadway and struck a utility pole at Hwy. 71 and Hwy. 45 and then collided with a second vehicle. The fleeing driver was pronounced deceased at the scene. There were two passengers in the vehicle with one being an infant. The infant was not injured. The Arkansas State Police is investigating the vehicle crash. Our department will conduct an internal pursuit review.”
