The repercussions of a suspected DUI incident continue to unfold as Hughes Police Lieutenant Corbin Dixon has been charged with battery, adding to his prior charges of driving while intoxicated and reckless driving. This development comes after the collision that inflicted serious harm upon 19-year-old Peyton Gregory in Helena-West Helena on December 26. According to Action News 5, the crash resulted in third-degree burns and broken ribs for the teenage driver.
Following the crash on Highway 49, Lt. Dixon was subjected to a breath test that revealed a blood alcohol content of .12%, exceeding Arkansas' legal limit. Dixon's bond was set at $25,000, and he has been scheduled to make his next court appearance on March 2 at the Phillips County Circuit Court. The FOX13 Memphis report states that the Phillips County Sheriff's Department is to independently investigate the crash, with Dixon currently on paid administrative leave.
Gregory, after enduring multiple surgeries, has since been discharged from the hospital and is recovering at home. The vehicular collision also led to a manhunt as Gregory was left pinned under his overturned truck, an ordeal he barely survived. In an interview, Gregory recounted to WREG vividly recalling the headlights before the crash and the helplessness he felt, trapped under his Ford F-150.
As reported by WREG, Dixon, who had previously served as an interim police chief before being repositioned as a lieutenant, exhibited a strong alcohol breath odor upon the officers' arrival at the scene. Investigators also faced challenges with Dixon providing "three insufficient samples on the BAC machine," though he eventually consented to both urine and blood samples for chemical testing. Amidst these proceedings, Dixon's previous employment record surprisingly revealed no prior incidents.
While Dixon's legal troubles continue to mount, the victim, Gregory, presses on in his recovery, confronting the physical reminders of the harrowing crash. He detailed to WREG undergoing a variety of treatments including burn and femur surgeries, sharing an impactful statement: "I've still got all the thoughts and memories and everything, I'll live with, I'm happy to be here." Gregory is scheduled for another surgery and may have to endure wearing a back brace for an entire year following his last procedure.
