Wednesday night collision in Interstate 55 construction zone
WEST MEMPHIS, AR, (September 18, 2024) - Arkansas State Police have launched an investigation following a high-speed police chase that resulted in a fatal accident involving road construction workers.
Justin Delgado lost his life on Wednesday when he was struck by a vehicle fleeing from law enforcement in an I-55 construction zone.
The incident began at approximately 10 p.m. on Wednesday when a West Memphis police officer initiated a traffic stop on a Corvette along East Broadway Avenue. The situation quickly escalated as the suspect fled the scene at high speed.
The pursuit continued south on Interstate 55, leading into a construction zone.
Tragedy struck when the suspect's vehicle hit two road construction workers contracted by the Arkansas Department of Transportation.
Justin Delgado, age 36, of Iola, Texas, was pronounced dead at the scene.
A second worker sustained critical injuries and was transported to Regional One Health Hospital for urgent medical care.
Following the collision, the suspect's vehicle was discovered engulfed in flames by Memphis police. Despite the extensive search efforts, the suspect remains at large.
The West Memphis Police Department has requested the ASP’s Criminal Investigation Division to take over the investigation of the incident.
CRASH INVESTIGATION
“It is imperative to come to a determination of the exact cause of these types of accidents. An attorney has the resources to review applicable insurance coverage, hire expert witnesses, run background checks, and locate witnesses. We carefully guide the family of the victim through the process,” said Candice Bond, a managing partner with Bond Legal.
She noted that, in cases such as this, an independent investigation is crucial to preserve evidence.
“In addition to a police report, an attorney will carefully review what may have contributed to the crash,” said Bond. “A lawyer has the resources to hire expert witnesses, conduct drivers’ background checks, locate witnesses to the crash and review applicable insurance coverage. Serving as an advocate, an attorney can help guide an injury victim through what can be a complicated process.”
WRONGFUL DEATH CLAIM
Pending the results of any investigations, the family of Justin Delgado may pursue a wrongful death claim. Survivors of wrongful death victims may seek damages for loss of companionship, pain and suffering, and emotional distress following a catastrophic accident such as this.
Stefano Formica, of counsel at Bond Legal, said, “Grieving families of victims are sometimes overwhelmed by the legal processes that are in place to protect their rights. An attorney can be a valuable and compassionate resource to help guide a family during this difficult time and ensure that those left behind receive the restitution they are entitled to.”
If you or a family member have been involved in a situation similar to this article and would like to speak to our national legal analysts Candice Bond or Stefano Formica free of charge, please use the contact information found on this page
(Candice Bond, Managing Partner, and Stefano Formica, Of Counsel, at Bond Legal, are the national legal analysts for Newsline. Newsline can and does use quotes from prior interviews with our analysts for our news articles. If you would like to contact Bond Legal to help you, please call 866-985-6515 or use the submission box found on this page. Legal analysts quoted may or may not be licensed in your state).