Shortly after 8 pm on Saturday the Lawrence County Dispatch received a call reporting an injured ATV rider trapped under his ATV. The rider was unsure of his location and had been riding on the county roads. The injured male was from the Clover Bend area so the Clover Bend Fire Department was alerted and began a search in their area. Family members of the victim had received word from the injured rider stating he was trapped under his ATV and possibly injured and was in a deep ditch off the highway. The subject had been seen riding in the area of Lawrence 507 so the Hoxie Fire Department was notified and began a search in the area of Lawrence 507.
The Lawrence County Dispatch had a trace ran on the subjects phone and the phone showed to be somewhere in the area of Lawrence 438 and Lawrence 405. A command center was set up by the Hoxie Fire Department on Lawrence 507 and additional support was requested. The Lawrence County Sheriff’s Office, Walnut Ridge Police, Hoxie Police, Alicia Fire Department, Walnut Ridge Fire Department, Lawrence County Office of Emergency Services and Arkansas State Parks were all notified and converged to the area of the search. Two helicopters were brought in to assist with the search and an ambulance from Medic One was placed on standby at the command center.
Units searched both the areas of the 500’s where he had been seen and the area of the 400’s where the phone ping was located for an hour and half looking in areas along field roads and Running Water Ditch. Around 9:30 pm the Lawrence County Dispatch received unconfirmed reports that the subject was located at a residence on Lawrence 435 just outside Walnut Ridge. A unit from the Walnut Ridge Police Department responded to the area and confirmed the subject was at that residence. According to reports the subject refused medical treatment on scene and was taken to Lawrence Memorial Hospital by private vehicle for treatment. No word on the extent of injuries. By 10 pm all departments were back in service, no other injuries were reported.
For more information on the Walnut Ridge Police Department visit www.cityofwalnutridge.com .
For more information on the Walnut Ridge Fire Department visit www.walnutridgefd.com .
For more information on the Lawrence County Sheriff’s Department visit www.lawrencecountysheriffsoffice.com .