West Memphis Man Dies After High-Speed Pursuit Maneuver by State Trooper
A West Memphis man, 32-year-old Demarcus Clark, died Friday night following a Tactical Vehicle Intervention (TVI) maneuver executed by an Arkansas State Police (ASP) trooper on I-40 eastbound.
The incident occurred around 10 p.m. at the 283-mile marker approaching the Hernando DeSoto Bridge. Clark was traveling at speeds exceeding 120 mph and exhibiting reckless driving behavior, prompting police assistance from nearby Marion after he fled a traffic stop.
According to authorities, Clark's vehicle collided with another trooper's vehicle immediately after the TVI, resulting in injuries to an ASP sergeant, who has since been treated and released from a local hospital. The crash caused significant traffic disruptions on I-40 for over three hours.
“This tragic incident underscores the dangers of high-speed pursuits and the difficult decisions law enforcement faces,” said ASP Colonel Mike Hagar.
The incident remains under investigation by ASP's Criminal Investigation Division.