A car that crashed in a Hot Springs Advertising and Promotion Commission parking lot three months ago continues to cause problems for the city and a local wrecker service.
The 2009 Mitsubishi Galant was carrying mercury, which leaked onto the pavement and required an environmental cleanup costing the ad commission thousands of dollars.
Following the collision, the damaged vehicle was towed away by Combs & Burks Wrecker Service. The vehicle, which is still tainted with mercury, has since remained on Combs & Burks' property per the request of Garland County Sheriff's Department and Hot Springs Police Department, according to Wayne Touchton, owner of Combs & Burks.
Touchton said he is frustrated with the car's presence at his business.
"I would like to get rid of it and get it crushed," Touchton said. "I've just got a car full of poison sitting on my property that I can't do anything with."
Dakota Avants, 22, of Pine Bluff, the car's driver, was charged with two counts of first-degree murder after two passengers in the vehicle, Kersha L. Arrington, 32, and Ashley Nicole Whittington, 30, both of Pine Bluff, died as the result of injuries sustained in the crash, which occurred after a high-speed pursuit that originated in Hot Spring County.
According to the arrest affidavit, Avants was westbound on Highway 270 at around 12:10 a.m. May 16 traveling at 68 mph -- 13 mph over the posted speed limit of 55 mph. Hot Spring County sheriff's Cpl. Michael Sealy attempted to initiate a routine traffic stop after confirming Avants' speed on his radar. After Sealy activated his emergency lights to initiate the stop, Avants reportedly accelerated away at a speed of 100 mph.
During the ensuing 10-mile chase, Avants allegedly drove on the wrong side of the road and ran other motorists off the highway. Sealy left his county of jurisdiction during the chase, eventually following Avants into Garland County and later into the city of Hot Springs.
The pursuit ended when Avants lost control of his vehicle and wrecked at the parking lot. Following the collision, Avants climbed out of the driver's side window and fled on foot to the northwest, pursued by Sealy. He was eventually taken into custody by Sealy at the intersection of Broadway Avenue and Market Street.
Avants and his two passengers were taken to CHI St. Vincent Hot Springs following the crash. The two passengers both died in the hospital within four days of the incident, and Avants was transferred to the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in Little Rock.
Avants allegedly stated that he fled from Sealy because his license might have been expired. He also reportedly admitted that he was trying to impress his two passengers with the high-speed pursuit, which he said ended while he was traveling at around 130 mph.
Avants has since been charged in Hot Spring County with two counts of first-degree murder, punishable by up to life in prison, and one count of fleeing, punishable by up to six years. He is also charged in Cleveland County with one count of theft of property, punishable by up to 10 years, three counts of breaking or entering, each punishable by up to six years, residential burglary, a felony, and second-degree criminal mischief, a misdemeanor.
None of the court documents mention the mercury, or how it came to be in the car. Neither does the preliminary fatal crash summary on file with the Arkansas State Police.
Steve Arrison, CEO of Visit Hot Springs, the convention and visitors bureau operated by the ad commission, said that he initially called the Hot Springs Fire Department after the mercury was discovered.
"That's a very hazardous material," Arrison said. "The fire department did what they could. We called in experts to get rid of the mercury."
Waste Services Inc. of Little Rock was hired to clean up the spill, at a cost of $12,938.29. The ad commission subsequently sent a letter to J. James Joseph, of Monticello, the listed owner of the crashed car, for proof of insurance.
"We're hoping there was insurance on the car," Arrison said. "That's what we're pursuing first. If not, then we'll have to look at the legal remedies."
Arrison said the police report filed about the collision failed to indicate an insurance company for the vehicle, or to confirm if it was insured. If the car is insured, such information would allow the commission to file a claim.
Touchton said that after the car was brought to his property, the departments told him a truck would eventually come and take the vehicle away. The car has since been inspected by a hazmat team and marked off with red tape. It currently sits in the back corner of the wrecker service's impound lot.
Local on 08/24/2016