First Angle of the Crash 20:40
Second Angle: 21:40

On December 4th, 2020, Arkansas State Police Dispatch was contacted by a Officer from The Arkansas Highway Police (ArDOT) who was requesting State Trooper assistance on a traffic stop along I-40 Westbound at the 36th Milepost, since the suspects vehicle had its windows covered in a layer of Black Paint.

At approximately 10:35 AM ASP Trooper James Ray was dispatched to assist the Highway Patrol Officer on his traffic stop.

Upon his arrival and passenger side approach of the vehicle, the driver identified as Brian Starnes 31, of North Carolina, accelerated his vehicle, and re-entered traffic, as the Trooper ran to his vehicle he slipped in the wet grass and fell. Both Trooper Ray and the Highway Patrol Officer pursued the vehicle for several miles before Trooper Ray executed a Pursuit Intervention Technique and forced the vehicle off of the roadway.

The suspect BRIAN STARNES re-gained control of his vehicle and re-entered the interstate. However this time he was traveling EAST in the WEST Bound lanes.

The Highway Officer followed STARNES down the interstate. While Trooper Ray continued straight and attempted to turn around in designated areas, which he did. After several attempts to stop the vehicle, and a chase down the interstate driving the wrong way. Trooper Ray positioned his vehicle head-on in front of the fleeing STARNES in hopes he would stop his vehicle. He did not. Trooper Ray was faced with the split second choice to either end the pursuit, or let it continue. And with that being known, in order to protect civilians behind him, Trooper James Ray placed his vehicle directly infront of STARNES and the two collided head on, ending the pursuit.

FIRE/EMS were dispatched to the scene were both the Trooper and the suspect were cleared of any life threatening injuries.

Starnes did initially resist Troopers attempting to take him into custody, however he was eventually arrested and is incarcerated in the Franklin County Detention Center.

Starnes was charged with the following:

1. Felony Fleeing
2. Aggravated Assault on a Law Enforcement Officer
3. Driving with a Suspended License
4. Refusal to Submit to Arrest

ALSO, the footage from the secondary vehicle is from the patrol car of ASP Trooper Kevin Yates who was dispatched to assist in the pursuit. However he spent the entire time responding to the area, and made it on scene seconds after the crash had occurred.

End.

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