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Fort Smith police still searching for answers six months after fatal hit and run killed 21-year-old

"He fought for almost four hours in the hospital. We were with him till the very last minute," said one of John's sisters just days after the crash.

FORT SMITH, Ark. — In November 2023, John Stephens, 21, and his girlfriend were riding a motorcycle east on Rogers Avenue in Fort Smith when they collided with a truck turning into a parking lot. Six months later, police are still searching for the truck driver, who can be seen on security camera footage speeding away from the scene moments later.

Police aren't alone in the search— Stephens' family has spent the past six months searching for answers.

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"I got woken up at about 3 a.m. to 20 missed calls ... It was honestly the worst news that I've ever heard in my life," said Stephens' sister Madison Reedy, shortly after the crash. "He was an amazing person. He was so loved; the way the community has reached out to us ... makes it all the more devastating to know that he's gone now."

Amber Johnson, another of Stephens' sisters said "He fought for almost four hours in the hospital. We were with him till the very last minute."

The Fort Smith Police Department (FSPD) described the truck as a black 2011-2016 four-door F250/350. Any possible information about the truck or its driver should be sent to FSPD at (479) 709-5100.

A fundraiser to help the family with the sudden expenses they are facing can be found here.

Editor's note: Footage of the crash has been sent to 5NEWS, but out of respect for the family, we have elected not to publish the video online or run it on air.

Credit: Fort Smith Police Department
Fort Smith police continue search for hit-and-run suspect that killed a motorcyclist on Nov. 17, 2023.

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