Deputy injured in crash

A Mississippi County deputy was injured early Wednesday morning during a three-vehicle crash at McHaney and Division in Blytheville.

Deputy Matthew Richardson was transported to Great River Medical Center in Blytheville after the accident, but Sheriff Dale Cook said on Friday that he is “fine” and was expected to return to light duty that evening.

According to Blytheville Police Department Capt. Teri Looney, a 2004 Mercury Marauder, driven by Vicky Johnson, was traveling east on McHaney at the traffic light intersecting with Division, along with passenger Daniel Thompson. Deputy Richardson had his emergency lights and sirens on in a Mississippi County Sheriff’s Department 2018 Dodge Ram truck as he was traveling south on Division Street and approaching the intersection.

A 2016 Chevrolet Camaro, driven by Darrius Nichols, was stopped at the intersection facing north in the interior lane, Capt. Looney noted.

“(The Marauder) did not yield to V-2 (police emergency vehicle) which caused the two vehicles to collide, pushing both vehicles into V-3 (the Camaro) which was stopped in the traffic lane,” Capt. Looney said. “V-1 (Marauder) driver stated she had a green light, but V-1 (Marauder) passenger stated the light was red when V-1 driver pulled into the intersection. Driver of V-2 (Richardson) stated he did not know if the light was red or green at the intersection. Driver of V-3 (Camaro) stated he was watching the deputy approach the intersection and did not notice whether the light was red or green but stayed stopped due to the emergency vehicle approaching.”

Capt. Looney said there were no tire skid marks in the intersection from either the Marauder or the police vehicle.

She said the Camaro driver pulled his vehicle into a parking lot on the west side of Division immediately to get out of the roadway.

“All vehicles received disabling damages,” Capt. Looney said. “Driver and passenger of V-1 were transported to Great River Medical Center for injuries. Driver of V-2 was transported to Great River Medical for injuries. Driver of V-3 was seen by medics at the accident scene but not transported.”