LRPD Officers observed an individual driving recklessly through a stop light at 11:23 pm on Thursday, September 26, 2024. After completing the turn heading south on Shackleford Road, officers pulled behind the vehicle and initiated a traffic stop. The individual in the vehicle fled at a high rate of speed. A short distance later, the officers following lost sight of the vehicle and began slowing down. After noticing smoke, a nearby parking lot was checked. Eventually, more smoke led them to a wooded area where they realized the vehicle was on fire with the driver trapped inside. The fire eliminated any attempts to render first aid, and the driver of the vehicle perished.

Supervisors on the scene notified Accident Reconstruction Officers and the Crime Scene Search Unit who responded and processed the scene. They also took photographs and collected evidence. The identity of the driver was not known at the time of the incident; therefore, next of kin will be notified pending the outcome of the autopsy from the Arkansas State Crime Lab. This investigation is ongoing.