A Mountain Home man charged with negligent homicide after a motorcycle he was driving while under the influence crashed killing a female passenger appeared in Baxter County Circuit Court/Criminal Division Monday.
Fifty-seven-year-old Joe Allen Deen is set to take a plea in the case but his attorney asked the court to move the plea entry to October 6 due to his client being scheduled for hip surgery.
Circuit Judge John Putman approved the continuance.
The fatal accident occurred in mid-August 2023 when Deen allegedly failed to negotiate a sharp left-hand curve on State Highway 341 and then lost control of his motorcycle after swerving to miss a large rock in the highway.
The motorcycle slid off the highway and struck a road sign. The female passenger riding on the back of the motorcycle was struck by the road sign.
She was airlifted to a Springfield hospital where she died due to the injuries sustained in the crash.
Deen was taken to Baxter Health where a blood sample was taken. The Arkansas State Crime Laboratory analyzed the sample and determined that Deen had a blood alcohol level well above the legal limit.
In addition to negligent homicide, a Class B felony, Deen is also charged with DWI/first offense which is a misdemeanor.
He has been free on $10,000 bond.
Deen is represented by Mountain Home attorney Ben Burnett.
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