Fort Smith man dies in head-on crash during police pursuit

A driver who was fleeing authorities died after his vehicle crashed head-on into a truck early Friday morning, police said.

The Fort Smith Police Department said in a statement that the chase started about 1:40 a.m. after an officer tried to stop a vehicle that had been traveling at a high rate of speed.

The driver — later identified as 56-year-old Victor Sallee of Van Buren — wouldn't stop his vehicle, which was described as traveling erratically but not over the speed limit, Lt. Wes Milam wrote in the statement.

At one point, the vehicle did accelerate "rapidly away" from the pursuing patrol car, police said.

"When the vehicle approached the intersection of Zero Street and Massard Road, the vehicle encountered a truck traveling [west]," Milam wrote. "The truck attempted to swerve out of the way and avoid the collision, but the fleeing vehicle veered suddenly, colliding with the truck head-on."

Sallee died at the scene. Police said alcohol "is believed to have been a factor."

The occupants of the truck were treated and released for unspecified injuries.

The pursuing officers have been placed on administrative leave during the investigation, police said.

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