Jonesboro, AR – (JonesboroRightNow.com) – March 3, 2025 – A Jonesboro man involved in a late February fatal crash was given a $1.5 million bond and charged with negligent homicide on Monday.
On Feb. 27, officers with the Jonesboro Police Department responded to an accident on the 2100 block of East Matthews Avenue. A truck, driven by 26-year-old Arturo Chacon, was traveling west and crossed into eastbound traffic lanes, the probable cause affidavit said.
The driver of a Nissan Altima, which also had a passenger, was traveling east and swerved to avoid a head-on collision with Chacon. His truck hit the Altima near the passenger side rear tire area, causing it to spin and come to a rest in the roadway, according to the probable cause affidavit.
The truck continued across the eastbound traffic lanes, entering the outer lane and striking a Toyota Camry, driven by Larry Taylor, who was pronounced dead on the scene. The victims in the Altima were taken to an area hospital for injuries.
Officers made contact with Chacon, who was lying in the passenger side due to not wearing a seatbelt during the crash, the affidavit said. According to the affidavit, there was no one else in the truck and officers could smell intoxicants and saw an open container in the vehicle. Officers removed Chacon from the vehicle, who was “very unstable on his feet while walking,” the affidavit noted.
Officers determined that Chacon did not have a driver’s license, and the only identification he had on him was a Mexico ID. The truck did not have any insurance on the vehicle, the affidavit said.
Chacon was charged with one count of negligent homicide, one count of reckless driving, one count of possession of an open container containing alcohol in a vehicle, one count of no seatbelt, one count of no driver’s license, one count of no proof of liability insurance and one count of DWI.
He was given a $1.5 million cash-only bond. The affidavit noted that Chacon has an Immigration Customs and Enforcement (ICE) hold. If he makes bond, Chacon cannot drive, have any alcohol or controlled substances, and must wear a GPS ankle monitor.
