ST. FRANCIS COUNTY, Ark. — A late-night pursuit on Interstate 40 ended with the arrest of a Texas man after a work truck collided with an Arkansas State Police (ASP) cruiser and sustained significant damage during the 31-mile chase. Dash camera video from the Aug. 22 incident shows the truck spinning a patrol vehicle and prompting further tactical efforts before officers brought the pursuit to a close.

According to an ASP report, the chase began around 11:42 p.m. near mile marker 247 in St. Francis County when Trooper Damion Potts observed a white 2014 Ford F-350 swerving in its lane, crossing the center and fog lines. The truck was registered to Sabine Constructors LLC of Texas. Potts activated his emergency lights, but the driver continued westbound without stopping, ignoring both a siren and spotlight.

As the truck accelerated and decelerated erratically while swerving, Potts pulled alongside near mile marker 241 in an attempt to gain the driver’s attention. However, the driver remained unresponsive. Trooper Hunter Hill joined the pursuit near mile marker 233, and as the truck attempted to bypass a tractor-trailer on the shoulder near mile marker 231, Hill moved ahead in an effort to reduce its speed. The truck struck the rear driver’s side of Hill’s cruiser, spinning it into a counterclockwise rotation and disabling the vehicle.

The impact caused $7,398.03 in damage to Hill’s cruiser, according to ASP estimates. Trooper Potts subsequently performed two tactical vehicle interventions (TVIs) by making contact with the rear corners of the F-350, but neither maneuver successfully stopped the truck. The TVI attempts caused an additional $3,213.33 in damage to Potts’ patrol car.

The chase progressed until Trooper Dillion Cook deployed stop sticks near mile marker 216, puncturing the truck’s passenger-side tires and deflating them. Police said the driver, later identified as Rickey D. Woods, 37, of Gladewater, Texas, exited the still-moving truck and fled on foot as the vehicle came to rest in the interstate median.

Troopers pursued Woods across I-40 and over a fence. A Taser deployment by Trooper Rafael Garcia was reportedly ineffective, but Woods continued running toward a nearby Citgo gas station. He eventually stopped, allowing Trooper Cook and Trooper Dallas Taylor to apprehend him without further incident.

Woods was transported to Forrest City Medical Center for evaluation before being booked into the St. Francis County Detention Center at 6:29 a.m. on Aug. 23. He initially refused to identify himself, but police later confirmed his identity during their investigation.

Charges listed on the St. Francis County Sheriff’s Office booking page include vehicle fleeing, aggravated assault, fleeing on foot, obstructing governmental operations, first-offense DWI involving drugs, reckless driving involving physical injury, improper lane change, and first-degree criminal mischief. State Police records also mention a separate improper or unsafe lane-change allegation.

According to the ASP report, damages totaled $10,611.36 for two patrol cars and an additional $2,000 for the work truck. Authorities indicated they plan to file an insurance claim and seek restitution. No bond amount was listed for Woods as of Tuesday evening.

All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.