Hunter Reynolds Killed in Redfield Motorcycle Accident
Families devastated by car accidents seek answers and accountability.
Hunter Reynolds, 29, of Sheridan, died Friday, March 20, in a car accident on U.S. Highway 365 near Mill Avenue in Redfield, Arkansas, police said.
Reynolds was riding a 2007 Honda VTX 1300 motorcycle south on U.S. Highway 365, according to the Arkansas State Police. A 2024 Honda HRV exited a parking lot and turned onto the highway.
The front of the Honda VTX 1300 motorcycle struck the driver's side front door of the Honda HRV.
Paramedics arrived at the scene at approximately 6:17 p.m. Jefferson County Deputy Coroner Douglas McCurry pronounced the victim dead at the scene.
The driver of the Honda HRV failed to yield to the Honda VTX 1300 motorcycle, police said.
The Arkansas State Police are investigating the accident.
Investigation Details
National Legal Analyst Candice Bond, Managing Partner at Bond Legal, noted that "I've seen families blindsided by how quickly a simple commute turns into a heartbeat of loss. It's devastating that left-turn crashes account for over twenty percent of all fatal intersection accidents."
The Arkansas State Police are investigating the crash. Trooper Gage Sanders filed an official report stating the crash happened in clear weather on a dry road. Police said the HRV turned into the path of the oncoming vehicle, resulting in a driver-side impact. Two women from Sheridan, ages 72 and 75, were taken to the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) for their injuries. The Jefferson County Coroner's Office has the body of the person who died as the investigation continues.
Arkansas wrongful death claims
Under Arkansas law (Ark. Code Ann. § 16-62-102), surviving family members of an individual killed in a motor vehicle collision may pursue legal action against a party found responsible for the death. These claims are typically filed by a personal representative of the deceased's estate or by direct heirs. The purpose of such claims is to seek compensation for financial losses and emotional suffering resulting from the death.
Arkansas operates under a modified comparative fault system. This means that a plaintiff may recover damages only if their degree of fault for the crash is determined to be less than 50 percent. If a plaintiff is found to be 50 percent or more at fault, they are generally barred from recovering damages.
Damages and statute of limitations in Arkansas
In Arkansas, the statute of limitations for filing a wrongful death claim is generally three years from the date of the crash. Recoverable damages in these cases often include funeral and burial expenses, medical costs incurred before death, and compensation for the mental anguish experienced by surviving family members.
In fatal car accidents, investigators often examine a vehicle's electronic data recorder, sometimes called a "black box." This data can provide information about vehicle operations in the moments leading up to a crash, which can be important in determining liability.