Negligent homicide arrest made in August wreck

Donald Gene Lyons
Donald Gene Lyons

A Bella Vista man was arrested Tuesday in connection with a wreck that killed a 42-year-old Lowell motorcyclist in August, according to a news release from the Rogers Police Department.

Donald Gene Lyons, 61, of 52 Swanage Drive in Bella Vista was arrested in connection with felony negligent homicide and misdemeanor counts of driving while intoxicated, driving while license suspended or revoked and inadequate insurance during an accident.

A blood sample collected from Lyons was analyzed at the Arkansas State Crime Lab. Rogers Police issued the warrant for Lyons' arrest based on that test, according to the news release.

Six vehicles, in addition to the one driven by Lyons, were involved in the wreck, according to the news release.

Lyons was southbound on Eighth Street near the Pleasant Grove Road intersection at about 9:13 p.m. on Aug. 29, according to a news release from the Rogers Police Department. He attempted to stop but slid sideways into a BMW motorcycle driven by Matthew Frank of Lowell, then Lyon's Ford Econoline van hit a Ford Explorer. The Explorer traveled across the intersection and hit a Kia Sportage in the northbound lane. Lyons' vehicle hit a Toyota 4Runner and a Chevrolet Silverado during the incident, according to the Rogers release.

Frank died in the wreck, according to an Arkansas State Police preliminary report from August. Lyons and Stephen Strope, then 45, of Rogers, were injured in the accident, according the Arkansas State Police preliminary report.

Lyons and Frank were both transported to Mercy Medical Center by the Rogers Fire Department, according to a news release from the Rogers Police Department. Frank was pronounced dead around 10:22 p.m. on Aug. 29.

Lyons was arrested Tuesday without incident, according to Rogers police. He was being held in the Benton County Jail Wednesday with no bond set.

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