02.05.2008
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| I-40 crash kills trooper, injures trucker
I-40 crash kills trooper, injures trucker 2/5/08 Arkansas Democrat Gazette, AR Quote:
A veteran Arkansas State Police trooper died in a fiery crash Monday morning after his patrol car crossed Interstate 40 and struck a tractor-trailer near Mulberry in Crawford County.
Sgt. Richard C. LeBow, 51, of Ozark struck the tractor-trailer about 10: 25 a. m., state police spokesman Bill Sadler said. The tractor-trailer driver, Manvel Garibyan, 44, of Burbank, Calif., was taken to a Fort Smith hospital.
LeBow’s westbound patrol car crossed the median, veered into oncoming traffic and struck the tractor-trailer carrying flat-panel televisions. The fire resulting from the crash destroyed the tractor-trailer, said Ken Pence, owner of Ken’s Towing in Ozark, who was at the scene.
“The motor was 100 feet from the car in the center median,” Pence said. “I could see smoke from the truck all the way from Alma.” Police investigators from the highway patrol and criminal investigation divisions are working to determine why LeBow crossed the median, Sadler said.
Pence said he heard witnesses telling investigators that LeBow’s vehicle gradually veered across the median and into oncoming traffic.
“This was not a U-turn,” Pence said. “This was not a traffic stop.” Pence said eastbound traffic on the interstate was backed up for more than three miles after the wreck. The eastbound lanes were closed from 10: 40 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Officers from the Ozark and Mulberry police departments and the Crawford County sheriff’s office assisted with traffic control, rerouting cars onto U. S. 64 between Dyer and Ozark.
Garibyan was taken to St. Edward Mercy Medical Center in Fort Smith for treatment.
LeBow, a 27-year state police veteran, was assigned to Troop H, which covers Crawford, Franklin, Logan, Scott and Sebastian counties. He is the 19 th state police trooper killed on du- ty since the agency was formed in 1935.
Pence described LeBow as a serious lawman.
“He was all business,” he said. “He did it by the book.” Even though LeBow was a respected supervisor, he still did plenty of basic police work.
“He was the kind of supervisor who got out there and worked with the guys,” said Pence, who had known LeBow for six years. “He didn’t just point fingers and tell people what to do.” State police Sgt. Bryan Davis described LeBow as “irreplaceable.” Davis said the agency is committed to finding out what caused the accident.
“It’ll take time to put it together,” he said. The state police will try to determine if the accident was caused by a mechanical failure in LeBow’s car, or if LeBow had a medical condition that caused him to lose control of his vehicle. The state police is working to reconstruct the accident.
In Ozark, LeBow was remembered Monday for his involvement in his church and as a youth baseball coach and umpire with Ozark Area Youth Organization.
“Everybody is in shock,” friend and Ozark Mayor Vernon McDaniel said. “He was very active in the community, and he was well thought of in this area.” Pastor Coyce Couch of Calvary Baptist Church in Ozark comforted the family Monday. LeBow is survived by his wife, Kathy, and two sons, Charles and Caleb.
Ozark Police Chief Jim Noggle said LeBow was an excellent trooper with a great reputation.
“The people of Ozark liked him — not the criminal part, but the good part,” Noggle said. “He was just and fair. Basically, it’s like a brother dying.”
http://www.nwanews.com/adg/News/215852/ | |
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