A Paragould man is facing charges of negligent homicide and driving while intoxicated following a fatal January crash that claimed the life of an Imboden woman and injured two juveniles, according to Arkansas State Police.
Larry Gene Ray, 57, remains in custody at the Craighead County Detention Center on a $100,000 cash or surety bond after a judge found probable cause to charge him in connection with the collision. His arraignment is scheduled for Sept. 30.
The crash occurred on Jan. 21 when a northbound Ford F-150 pickup truck entered the center turn lane of U.S. 49 before crossing into the southbound lanes. The truck collided with a 2018 Chevrolet driven by 49-year-old Becky Annette Anderson of Imboden, who was killed in the impact. Two juveniles riding in Anderson’s vehicle suffered injuries and were taken to the hospital for treatment.
Witnesses at the scene reportedly observed Ray, the driver of the pickup truck, attempting to switch seats with a passenger following the collision. According to a court affidavit, those witnesses also saw the two men attempting to hide an object in the tall grass near the crash site. During a search of the area, investigators located a plastic package containing suspected marijuana.
Ray was detained and transported to a Jonesboro hospital for medical evaluation. Authorities subsequently obtained a search warrant to collect a sample of his blood, which was sent to the Arkansas State Crime Laboratory for testing. On June 1, investigators received toxicology results showing the presence of amphetamine, methamphetamine, and dextromethorphan in Ray’s blood at the time of the crash.
Authorities confirmed that Ray has been charged with negligent homicide, driving while intoxicated, possession of a controlled substance, and other related offenses. He remains in custody as the judicial process continues.