Kathryn White Killed in Hot Springs Car Accident
Fleeing suspect Lee Amos Smith faces manslaughter charges after high-speed pursuit ends in double-fatality collision
Kathryn White, 78, of Hot Springs, and Patricia Minga, 73, of Jonesboro, were killed in a car accident on Thursday, March 12, at the corner of Fifth Street and Hobson Avenue in Hot Springs, according to the Hot Springs Police Department.
Lee Amos Smith, 50, faces two counts of manslaughter, fleeing, leaving the scene of an accident involving death, and theft by receiving. Officers arrested him following a brief foot pursuit near Fourth Street and South Avenue after he ran from the wreckage.
The collision occurred when a driver in a stolen vehicle fled an attempted traffic stop at Cleveland and White streets. The fleeing vehicle struck an eastbound car carrying the two women.
Two other people suffered injuries in the crash. Their current conditions have not been released.
The department's pursuit policy dictates that officers should only engage in vehicle pursuits when the need for apprehension outweighs the risk to the public. The investigation remains ongoing.
What charges does the suspect face in the Hot Springs crash?
The tragic loss of innocent lives during high-speed pursuits leaves families searching for accountability. While the criminal case against the fleeing driver proceeds, independent investigations often examine the decisions made by law enforcement leading up to the crash. National Legal Analyst Candice Bond, Managing Partner at Bond Legal, noted that "When I hear about high-speed collisions, I think about the heavy grief those families carry. A car's black box captures the five seconds before impact, showing if there wasn't even a tap on the brakes."
How do police pursuit policies impact liability?
Families of victims killed by fleeing drivers in stolen vehicles often face complex liability scenarios involving municipal pursuit protocols and uninsured drivers coverage. National Legal Analyst Stefano Formica, Of Bond Legal, observed that "The grief of a fatal wreck is a heavy burden for any community to carry. Speed differential is actually the biggest factor in crash severity, even more than how fast a car was going overall."
Arkansas recorded 596 motor vehicle crash death in 2023, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. High-speed collisions at intersections remain a significant contributor to statewide traffic deaths.
Arkansas wrongful death statute
Under Ark. Code § 16-62-102, surviving family members may file a wrongful death action. The state applies modified comparative fault (50% bar). The statute of limitations for wrongful death claims is 3 years.
Recoverable damages may include loss of financial support, loss of companionship and consortium, funeral and burial expenses, and the decedent's pre-death pain and suffering.