Batesville, Ark. – The jury trial for a 72-year-old Logan County woman charged in connection with a high-speed crash that killed two sisters has been postponed for a second time, giving both sides more time to prepare their cases.
Martha Phillips faces two counts of manslaughter after allegedly purchasing a sports car for her 16-year-old grandson, Ian Phillips, who did not have a driver’s license, and racing with him shortly before the May 30, 2025, collision on Interstate 40 in Logan County. According to Arkansas State Police reports, Ian was driving a Chevrolet Camaro at speeds exceeding 150 mph when he rear-ended the vehicle carrying the two Scranton sisters, pushing it across the centerline into the path of an oncoming semi-truck. The sisters, both students at Arkansas schools, were pronounced dead at the scene.
Ian Phillips was arrested at the crash site and transported to the Yell County Juvenile Detention Center. He was later charged as an adult with two counts of second-degree murder, upgraded from initial manslaughter charges on July 8, 2025. Court documents allege that he and his grandmother were engaged in a street race prior to the fatal incident.
Martha Phillips was arrested on June 4, 2025, and booked into the Logan County Jail. She posted a $250,000 bond and was released shortly after. During her arraignment on July 11, 2025, Phillips entered a not guilty plea before Judge Jerry Don Ramey in Logan County Circuit Court. Her original jury trial was scheduled for September 26, 2025, but was first continued to an unspecified date following a pretrial hearing postponement on September 12, 2025. The latest court order, issued recently, has reset the trial for June 15, 2026, citing the need for additional preparation time by the state and defense.
A pretrial hearing for Phillips is now set for October 10, 2025. Ian Phillips’ case details remain under review, with his charges reflecting the severity of the crash’s circumstances.
Authorities continue to investigate the events leading up to the collision, including the purchase of the vehicle in Missouri. The Batesville Tribune and other outlets have chosen to publicly identify Ian Phillips, a minor, due to his adult charges in the matter.
