High-Speed Pursuit Ends in Fatal Crash in Bee Branch this morning, Wednesday June 11, 2025, a high-speed police pursuit ended in tragedy in Bee Branch, Arkansas. Van Buren County Sheriff’s Deputies, Arkansas State Police, and First Responders responded around 7:45 a.m. after a fleeing suspect lost control of his vehicle and was fatally injured.
The suspect, identified as 23-year-old Joey Vincent Simmons II of Memphis, was wanted in connection with multiple attempted armed robberies in Conway and Damascus. Arkansas State Police spotted the suspect’s Toyota Camry traveling northbound on U.S. Highway 65 south of Bee Branch and initiated a pursuit.
Troopers reported that Simmons reached speeds exceeding 100 mph, passing vehicles on the shoulder, center turn lane, and into oncoming traffic. During the pursuit, Simmons allegedly fired a weapon at the pursuing trooper. No officers returned fire, and no law enforcement personnel were injured.
The chase ended when Simmons lost control of the vehicle, which exited the highway at high speed and crashed into a wooded area. Simmons was ejected from the car and pronounced dead at the scene by the Van Buren County Coroner.
His body will be sent to the Arkansas State Crime Lab to determine the official cause and manner of death.
Disclaimer: All suspects are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
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