An officer was dispatched to an accident on Phoenix and Leigh Avenues around 6:30 p.m. Friday (April 5), according to a police report. Once he was on the scene, he found one of the drivers, William Whitaker, was completely nude and appeared to be intoxicated.
Whitaker allegedly fled the scene of the accident, nearly hitting an officer. The pursuit ended when he crossed into oncoming traffic and hit another vehicle at S. 62nd and Phoenix, the report states.
The occupants of the other vehicle were not injured, according to police. But police found Whitaker bleeding from his head and nose with multiple cuts on his body. His passenger, Michael Redman, was also suffered head injuries and appeared to be unconscious, police say.
Officers found several Milwaukee's Best beer cans and a mason jar of a clear liquid believed to be alcohol in the vehicle.
Both were taken to Mercy Hospital. Police say Whitaker suffered life-threatening neck and spine injuries and was later taken to a Northwest Arkansas hospital where he remains in critical condition.
Whitaker is expected to be arrested on charges of aggravated assault, fleeing apprehension with injury, and driving while intoxicated once released from the hospital. Police say he also did not have liability insurance on his vehicle.
Redman is expected to recover and will not be charged in the incident, according to police.