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Jonesboro Woman Killed in Hot Springs Crash During Police Pursuit

Jonesboro Woman Killed in Hot Springs Crash During Police Pursuit

/Facebook Hot Springs Police Department


Hot Springs, AR – JonesboroRightNow.com – A Jonesboro woman was killed Thursday in Hot Springs when a suspect fleeing police in a stolen vehicle crashed into another car during a pursuit, according to authorities.

Hot Springs police say Patricia Minga, 73, of Jonesboro and Kathryn White, 78, of Hot Springs both died as a result of the crash.

According to the Hot Springs Police Department, an officer attempted to stop a stolen vehicle around the intersection of Cleveland and White Streets on March 12. The driver refused to stop, leading officers on a pursuit through the city.

During the chase, the fleeing vehicle collided with another vehicle at Hobson Avenue and Fifth Street.

Minga and White were killed in the crash, police said.

Two other people were injured, though authorities have not released details about their conditions.

Police say the suspect fled on foot after the crash but was captured a short time later near Fourth Street and South Avenue following a brief foot pursuit.

The suspect was identified as 50-year-old Lee Amos Smith of Hot Springs.

Smith is facing multiple charges including two counts of manslaughter, two counts of third-degree battery, fleeing, leaving the scene of an accident involving injury or death, theft by receiving, and three counts of second-degree criminal mischief.

Authorities have not released additional details about the victims or the circumstances leading up to the pursuit.

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