Body found in flooded Arkansas creek is missing road-crash victim

A body found Thursday in the floodwaters of a Hot Spring County creek was identified Friday as a man reported missing in January, authorities said.

Jon Boutilier, 61, of Bismarck suffered fatal injuries as a result of a Jan. 2 crash on Arkansas 7 near Blue Bird Lane, according to a crash report from the Arkansas State Police.

Boutilier's 2005 Chevrolet Trailblazer left the road on its right side, state police said. He was reported missing Jan. 3, the Hot Spring County sheriff's office said.

The report did not list what time of day the wreck took place or what the weather conditions were.

Boutilier's death is one of at least 48 related to traffic crashes on Arkansas roads this year, according to preliminary state police figures.

Boutilier's body was found Thursday in the floodwaters of Fourche A Loupe Creek, according to authorities.

The Sentinel Record of Hot Springs reported that Martin Wells, who lived nearby, said he was checking the water level around noon when he saw what he thought was a dead animal. He said he realized it was a human as he moved closer.

Wells got his neighbor, Allen Denton, who called 911. Denton said the body was hung on a tree in the middle of the creek.

State Desk on 03/03/2018

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