Jackson County, AR – (JonesboroRightNow.com) – Sept. 18, 2024 – Arkansas State Police have arrested a Lawrence County man in connection with the Oct. 3, 2023, 16-car field burning motor vehicle accident on Highway 67 that claimed the life of two out-of-state residents and injured four others.
Charles Benham, 55, of Alicia, is charged with reckless burning, a Class D felony.
“We believe Mr. Benham was a farm hand for Cason Farms,” said Third Judicial District Prosecuting Attorney Devon Holder. Cason Farms farmed the field that was burning and producing the smoke which contributed to the accident.
Holder said his office is not pursuing Cason Farms, the landowner.
Arkansas State Police investigated the incident and arrested Benham today. He is being held in the Jackson County Jail. Bond has not been set.
“By law, Mr. Benham is assumed to be innocent until proven guilty in a court of law,” Holder added.
State Trooper Corey Bates said all 16 vehicles were traveling north on Highway 67 near the 99-mile marker when smoke from a nearby burning field covered all four lanes. 68-year-old Thomas Blevins, of Logan, Ohio, and 55-year-old Terry Lutz, of Somerset, Ohio, died in the accident.
ARK. CODE 5-38-302. Reckless Burning
(a) A person commits the offense of reckless burning if the person purposely starts a fire or causes an explosion, whether on his own property or that of another, and thereby recklessly:
1. creates a substantial risk or death or serious physical injury to any person; or
2. destroys or causes substantial damage to an occupiable structure of another person; or
3. destroys or causes substantial damage to a vital public facility.
(b) Reckless burning is a Class D felony: punishable by a fine not to exceed $10,000.00 or six (6) years in jail, or both such fine and imprisonment.
JRN’s Nena Zimmer looked at all sides of the field burning issue in a story she covered and wrote this week.