LR man arrested, charged in fatal crash in Spa City | The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

HOT SPRINGS — A Little Rock man was arrested Monday on a charge of negligent homicide following a fatal wreck in Garland County in February in which he is accused of colliding with another vehicle while under the influence of drugs and alcohol.

Brandon Lamar Hughes, 33, was arrested on a felony warrant for negligent homicide, which is punishable by up to 20 years in prison, as well as a violation for driving left of center. He was booked into the Garland County Jail shortly before 4:30 p.m. Monday and remained there Tuesday in lieu of $200,000 bail.

The warrant for Hughes’ arrest was issued on July 30 after the case was filed in Garland County Circuit Court that same day. On Friday, the case was amended to classify Hughes as a habitual offender with four or more prior felony convictions.

According to court records, he was convicted in 2014 of possession of marijuana with intent to deliver and possession of drug paraphernalia and sentenced to five years of supervised probation; in 2016 of first-degree terroristic threats and sentenced to five years of supervised probation; and in 2021 of second-degree domestic battery and third-degree domestic battery, subsequent offense, and sentenced to three years in prison, all in Pulaski County.

According to a probable cause statement, shortly before 5 a.m. on Feb. 12, a fatal collision was reported on US 70 east of Hot Springs near Summit Ridge Road. Arkansas State Police Trooper Daniel Theiss responded, arriving on the scene shortly after 5:30 a.m.

Theiss noted that a white 2006 Hyundai Sonata was in the center turn lane, facing southeast, and a silver 2020 Hyundai Elantra was in the eastbound ditch, facing west. The Sonata was operated by Hughes, who was transported to CHI St. Vincent Hot Springs for his injuries, police said.

The driver of the Elantra, who was pronounced dead at the scene by the Garland County Coroner, was identified as Timothy Bratton, 62, of Hot Springs.

Based on his investigation of the scene, Theiss concluded that Hughes was westbound on the highway and crossed the center turn lane, striking Bratton’s eastbound vehicle, which was traveling in the inside lane.

Upon further investigation, Theiss reported that he noticed the odor of intoxicants coming from Hughes’ vehicle, and upon taking inventory of the vehicle, he said he saw several empty beer cans on the passenger floor, “with some of the cans still cold to the touch.” He said he also noticed an empty liquor bottle next to the empty beer cans.

A search warrant was obtained for a blood draw from Hughes, which was collected at the hospital and sent to the Arkansas State Crime Lab for analysis. Theiss later received a report indicating Hughes’ blood alcohol content was 0.23 percent, nearly three times the legal limit.

The report also revealed that Hughes tested positive for cannabinoids, the cocaine metabolite benzoylegonine and ketamine.