A Bull Shoals man is facing charges from a fatal crash occurring last year in Baxter County. Thirty-year-old Ethan Wayne Hutchinson is charged with a felony count negligent homicide.
According to the probable cause affidavit, an Arkansas state trooper responded May 19, 2022, to a two-vehicle accident on Arkansas Highway 5 north of Mountain Home. A truck was negotiating a right hand curve when it crossed the turning lane and struck another truck, causing the death of its driver, John Wilson. Hutchinson was the driver of the first truck, and during the investigation, he reportedly admitted to changing the music on his phone when the crash occurred.
A search warrant was obtained for Hutchinson’s phone, and an app was discovered on his phone with music paused, corroborating his account. A blood sample was also obtained from Hutchinson, and the test concluded his system had Nordiazepam, a Schedule IV narcotic known to have a muscle relaxant and sedative properties.
Hutchinson was also cited for use of a wireless telecommunications device when driving and careless driving.
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