20 Crashes, 26 Arrests During Annual Biker Rally

Bikes, Blues and BBQ

State police investigated 20 traffic crashes on Northwest Arkansas highways last week, but saw no deaths during the annual Bikes, Blues and BBQ motorcycle rally.

Fifteen crashes on the highway involved injuries. Washington and Benton counties each saw six crashes and five injuries. Madison County had six crashes and four injuries. Caroll County saw just two crashes and one injury, according to the Arkansas State Police.

The number of accidents, arrests and citations issued at Bikes, Blues and BBQ in Fayetteville city limits were down this year, according to police.

A total of 26 arrests were made inside the Dickson Street event area.

“We had one less arrest than last year, fewer citations issued, numbers were down a little bit,” Sgt. Craig Stout said Monday, after the four-day rally ended.

Of the 26 arrests, 19 were local residents. Sgt. Stout says that’s a consistent trend each year. The majority of charges involved the public intoxication and disorderly conduct.

Last year, police received 19 calls of accidents in Fayetteville involving motorcycles. But only 11 accidents were reported during the event this year. No fatalities were reported.

Sgt. Stout said he wasn’t sure what might have contributed to less arrests and accidents. But for the first time this year, police closed a section of Dickson for the rally, which may have eased congestion.
There were four citations issued in the Dickson Street event area this year, according to a news release from the police department.  Two were citations were issued for minor in possession of alcohol and two for violation of the city noise ordinance from bikers revving their engines.

The department investigated three reports of stolen motorcycles, one of which was recovered during the event.

The number of citations issued and reports of stolen motorcycles were also down this year compared to last, according to Sgt. Stout.