Truck Fleeing Arkansas State Police Crash Kills Passenger, Injures Others
A passenger in a truck fleeing the Arkansas State Police died after a trooper rammed the vehicle during a chase on I-40 in Prairie County on Tuesday.
Laterrika Woods, 29, was ejected from the Dodge Ram pickup that flipped and landed in a ditch. She was pronounced dead at the scene. Another passenger, Latarica Walker, 26, was airlifted to Baptist Medical Center and is in critical condition. The driver, Torkilo Hambrick, 30, and passenger Zuri Jones, 45, were hospitalized in stable condition.
The chase began following a traffic stop in Lonoke County, continuing for 18 miles at speeds up to 120 mph before the trooper executed a Precision Immobilization Technique (PIT maneuver) at the 191-mile marker near Hazen. Arkansas State Police have recently emphasized the use of such maneuvers, now termed Tactical Vehicle Interventions (TVIs).
Authorities report that Hambrick will face charges in connection with Woods' death. He has an outstanding extradition warrant from Shelby County, Tennessee, for a probation violation and is a registered sex offender.
In February, Arkansas State Police Director Mike Hagar stated that troopers would aggressively pursue fleeing suspects, highlighting a significant increase in police chases from 74 in 2017 to 553 in 2024, with fatalities and injuries occurring during these pursuits.
Investigations are ongoing.