A silver 2013 Ford Mustang blew past traffic at 106 mph in a 65 mph zone on eastbound I-40 near West Memphis early on November 6, then kept accelerating to roughly 110 mph before slamming into a concrete median barrier during a trooper's attempt to stop it. The driver, identified as 25-year-old Rico A. Tate of Lebanon, Tennessee, was taken into custody and booked on felony fleeing and drug possession charges, among others.
According to NEA Report, which obtained the Arkansas State Police report and video from the pursuit, Trooper Dylan Evans first spotted the Mustang passing traffic rapidly near mile marker 278 at about 6:59 a.m. Evans clocked the car at 106 mph near mile marker 282, where the posted limit was 65 mph, and activated his lights and siren.
Driver Weaved Through Traffic Before Crash
The driver did not pull over. Near mile marker 283 around 7:01 a.m., the Mustang used the right shoulder to pass a commercial vehicle and came close to striking both a sedan and the truck, the report says. The car then reached about 110 mph.
Evans made two attempts to spin the Mustang to a stop. The second ended with the car striking the concrete median barrier and becoming disabled. Evans took Tate into custody without incident, then moved both vehicles to the shoulder to reopen the travel lanes. The report estimated damage to the Mustang at $12,000; it was towed from the scene.
Drugs Found Inside the Disabled Mustang
While moving the Mustang, Evans reported smelling marijuana. The report says a search found about 7 grams of marijuana in a sunglasses case near the cup holders and about 0.3 grams of suspected methamphetamine in a plastic bag by the parking brake. Tate reportedly told Evans he had found the bag in a Kroger parking lot and did not know what was inside.
Tate also said he had been speeding because he was running out of gas, according to the report. A records check identified a Tennessee identification card for Tate; Evans was unable to verify insurance coverage for the Mustang.
Multiple Charges Filed in Crittenden County
The booking charges listed in the report included felony fleeing, speeding, reckless driving, driving without a license, driving without insurance, possession of less than 4 ounces of a Schedule VI controlled substance, and possession of less than 2 grams of a Schedule I or II controlled substance.
Earlier I-40 Pursuit Ended Fatally
A separate high-speed pursuit ended in a fatal wreck on eastbound I-40 near mile marker 284 on December 19, 2023, according to the Arkansas Department of Public Safety. That earlier incident was reported as fatal; the account of the November 6 pursuit describes the Mustang being disabled and Tate taken into custody.
