Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Suspicious accident leaves one dead

An Alexander woman was fatally injured early Wednesday morning when she reportedly fell from a moving vehicle.

Clark County sheriff's deputies are investigating the incident which occurred on Copeland Ridge Road about four miles from Arkadelphia.

According to a statement released Thursday by the sheriff's office, at about 4 a.m., June 5, Leann Harris, 22, fell from the passenger side of a her pick-up truck which was being driven by another person. She injured her head in the fall.

Two other people in the vehicle took Harris to Baptist Health Medical Center-Arkadelphia, and she was later taken by helicopter to Baptist Health Medical Center-Little Rock. Harris was then placed on life support while doctors monitored for brain activity. Harris' family signed papers on Friday morning to remove Harris from life support after doctors found no activity.

The two others in the vehicle were Sloan Speights, 24, and Jill Tolson, 19, both of Arkadelphia.

Speights was the driver of the vehicle.

Clark County Sheriff Troy Tucker said that his office is continuing to investigate the incident, but did not suspect foul play at this point. The sheriff's office is working with the Arkadelphia Police Department and Arkansas State Police on the investigation.

According to a press release from the sheriff's office, investigators have examined the scene of the accident, the vehicle and evidence collected from the scene. No other information will be released until the investigation is complete, Tucker said.

Harris' funeral was held Tuesday in Bryant.