From the report of Trooper Shawn Ellis, lightly edited for clarity: On April 10, 2020, at approximately 6 AM, Troop H dispatch advised that Sebastian County Sheriff’s Office was requesting assistance with a pursuit.
Deputies were pursuing a black pickup, driven by Justin Battenfield, which had recklessly driven through several traffic lights without stopping and was passing traffic on the shoulder of U.S. 71.
Battenfield’s vehicle collided with a driveway culvert while overturning and my unit went airborne as it traveled over Battenfield’s vehicle. Battenfield sustained fatal injuries and I sustained multiple serious injuries.”
