A quiet early Sunday in Marked Tree was shattered when a police cruiser flipped at a city intersection, killing a 25-year-old officer and injuring two others, authorities said.
Officer Trevor Howard, who had only recently gone full-time with the Marked Tree Police Department, died after the patrol vehicle he was riding in was struck at Broadway and Nathan streets. One of the other two people injured was flown to a Memphis hospital with serious injuries, while the third was taken to a local medical center.
State Report Lays Out Early Crash Details
A preliminary fatal-crash summary from the Arkansas State Police says the collision happened at 2:40 a.m. on June 28 at Highway 14, also known as Broadway, and Nathan Street in Marked Tree. According to that report, a 1996 Mercury was heading north on Broadway when it failed to stop at a stop sign and hit the passenger side of a 2023 Dodge traveling east. The impact caused the Dodge to overturn, killing a passenger identified as Trevor Howard. Those details are included in the Arkansas State Police preliminary crash summary.
Who Was Hurt And Where They Were Taken
Howard, 25, had started working full time for the Marked Tree Police Department in May, according to colleagues and local reports. Arkansas police records list Officer Anthony Johnson, 22, as the driver of the department vehicle. He was taken to NEA Baptist Memorial Hospital in Jonesboro with injuries described as non-life-threatening, while 28-year-old Kareem Jones of Marked Tree was airlifted to Regional One Health in Memphis with serious injuries, as reported by Jonesboro Right Now.
Local Officials And Family Mourn A ‘First-Born’ Son
The Poinsett County Sheriff's Office publicly mourned Howard's death, posting a message asking residents to keep his family and fellow officers in their thoughts and prayers. In a Facebook post, Howard's father said he was notified shortly before 3 a.m., calling his son "my first-born" and saying the family finds some comfort in knowing he "died doing what he loved," as shared by the Poinsett County Sheriff's Office on Facebook.
State Police Investigation Still Ongoing
Arkansas State Police troopers are handling the investigation into the crash and list Trooper Brian Merrill as the investigating officer in the online summary. Authorities have not announced any criminal charges. Troopers say the collision remains under review as they continue processing the scene and interviewing witnesses, according to the Arkansas State Police report.
Marked Tree Grieves, Awaits Next Steps
The Marked Tree Fire Department and neighboring agencies joined the chorus of condolences, as the small town grapples with the loss of a young officer killed on duty. Funeral arrangements had not yet been announced, and officials urged anyone with information about the crash to contact law enforcement, according to Action News 5.
