Atkins, Ark. – A 49-year-old woman died Wednesday after an Arkansas State Police trooper intentionally struck her vehicle during a high-speed chase on Interstate 40 near Atkins, marking at least the fourth fatal pursuit involving state police this year.
Andrea Thompson of Russellville was identified as the driver killed in the incident, which unfolded around 4 p.m. as she sped westbound in a blue Nissan Versa. The trooper observed the vehicle passing other cars on the shoulder and nearly colliding with two of them while attempting to evade pursuit.
To end the chase, the trooper executed a precision immobilization technique, or PIT maneuver—also known as a tactical vehicle intervention—by ramming the rear of Thompson’s car. The Nissan veered off the roadway, and Thompson was ejected. Emergency responders attempted life-saving measures at the scene, but she succumbed to her injuries.
This marks the latest in a series of deadly encounters linked to ASP pursuits. Including Thompson, PIT maneuvers by state troopers have resulted in the deaths of three drivers and one passenger so far in 2025, with one additional driver and five passengers injured in related crashes.
The fatalities come amid a tougher stance on fleeing suspects announced by Arkansas State Police in March. Colonel Mike Hagar, director of the ASP, addressed a news conference alongside prosecutors, declaring, “Fleeing suspects are terrorizing and traumatizing our communities. Our troopers will not look the other way. We will pursue you. We will stop you, and these men and women will prosecute you. Enough is enough.”
A PIT maneuver involves an officer deliberately contacting a fleeing vehicle’s rear fender to induce a spinout and halt it. While effective in quickly stopping pursuits, critics question its risks to bystanders and occupants.
Angelo Brown, an assistant professor of criminology at Arkansas State University, cautioned that such aggressive tactics should be reserved for known violent offenders. “A chase can kill passengers or other members of the public who wouldn’t be in danger if police waited to find the suspect later,” Brown said.
The ASP’s Critical Incident Division is investigating the crash, standard procedure for officer-involved pursuits resulting in death. Further details will be released as the probe continues.
