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Man Faces Felony Charges In Deadly Springdale Crash

SPRINGDALE (KFSM) – The Springdale Police Department responded to a fatality crash on Monday (Aug. 11) at approximately 4 a.m., in which, one man died and...
escalante negligent homicide mugshot

SPRINGDALE (KFSM) – The Springdale Police Department responded to a fatality crash on Monday (Aug. 11) at approximately 4 a.m., in which, one man died and another went missing, according to a news release.

Two passengers were ejected from the vehicle during the rollover, and one was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash. The passenger killed in the crash was identified as 18-year-old Eliseo Landa-Zamora, according to Springdale police.

The second person ejected was a woman named Ruth Figuerero. She was transported to Washington Regional Medical Center in Fayetteville with serious injuries, according to the release.

The accident took place at North Commercial Street and East Meadow Avenue, and when authorities arrived, they found a white 2005 Chevy Trailblazer on its top in a nearby parking lot, the release states.

Traveling westbound on East Meadow Avenue, the driver of the Trailblazer appeared to lose control around North Commercial Street and rolled several times, according to the release.

Witnesses told police the vehicle had five people in it, the release states.

The driver was identified as 20-year-old Gustavo Escalente. He was wearing his seat belt and sustained no injuries. He was arrested on suspicion of negligent homicide and battery 2nd degree, according to the release. He has a court date set for Wednesday (Aug. 13), according to the Washington County Sheriff’s Office.

Escalente was transported to the Springdale Police Department where he admitted to drinking multiple alcoholic drinks and using some marijuana over a 24-hour period prior the crash. He said he felt “buzzed” while he was driving and told police he lost control of the vehicle after driving over the railroad tracks, according to a court document.

The other two passengers fled the scene, one later appearing at Northwest Medical Center in Bentonville. The last person has not yet been identified or located, the release states.

The investigation is still ongoing, authorities said.

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