BENTONVILLE (KFSM) - Police identified the driver involved in a deadly hit-and-run in Bentonville on Wednesday (Mar. 18), according to the Bentonville Police Department.
Police said Tommie Prickett, 62, of Springdale was the driver of a vehicle that struck and killed Aron Nathanial Romero, 33, of Centerton Tuesday (Mar. 17) just before 7 a.m.
To read more about Romero, who his wife described as a dedicated father and veteran, click here.
Bentonville Police Chief Jon Simpson said police officers located Prickett's vehicle, a dark blue 2006 Buick Lucerne, Wednesday morning near the intersection of Southwest Regional Airport Boulevard and Featherston Road in Bentonville.
"Officers, this morning, basically set up along the route that we believe the driver took yesterday and they watched and waited for a similar vehicle and they found that similar vehicle," he said.
Chief Simpson said that Prickett's vehicle was taken to the Bentonville Police Department for examination.
"We had some of our crime scene trained officers photograph and collect evidence from that car," he said.
The police chief said that Prickett could face charges for leaving the scene of an accident resulting in the injury to or the death of any person, but said the investigation needs to be complete before an arrest is made.
According to police, Romero was driving a 2003 Honda XTR motorcycle east in the inside lane of traffic when he rear-ended a stopped vehicle at the intersection of Southwest Regional Airport Boulevard and Southwest Sunbrooke Street. Romero was then thrown into the westbound lane of traffic where he was hit by Prickett, according to police.
Prickett didn't stop, but kept going west, according to police.
"We may look at it and find, and I believe we will, that there was nothing this driver could've done differently to avoid hitting our victim," he said.
Romero was taken to Northwest Medical Center in Bentonville where he died, police said.
Chief Simpson said he expects the investigation to be complete by the end of the week. He said the completed investigation will be sent to the Benton County Prosecutor's Office to determine whether any charges should be filed against Prickett.
The driver of the stopped 2001 Honda Accord that was rear-ended by Romero was not injured, according to police.