LITTLE ROCK, AR — Arkansas State Police have identified the teenager killed in an early September crash in Independence County as 19-year-old Robert Colvin of Bradford.
Colvin died Sept. 5 after the 2018 Ram pickup he was driving left State Highway 25 near Charlotte, according to a preliminary fatal crash report from the agency.
Investigators say the truck crossed off the north side of the roadway, hit a creek embankment, overturned and caught fire after impact. The crash happened around 7:35 p.m.
Truck left the roadway on a dry stretch of Highway 25
The crash took place westbound on Highway 25, where the pickup traveled before leaving the paved lane. The preliminary report says weather was clear and the road surface was dry at the time.
Those conditions can matter in fatal wreck investigations because they help officials narrow the likely causes. In this case, Arkansas State Police have not reported any weather-related factor or road-surface problem that contributed to the collision.
The vehicle’s path suggests a sudden departure from the roadway, followed by a hard impact with the creek embankment. The truck then overturned and ignited, turning what began as a single-vehicle wreck into a deadly fire scene.
A September crash added another fatality to Independence County roads
The Sept. 5 wreck occurred in Independence County, an area that includes Charlotte and stretches of Highway 25 used by local traffic and travelers alike. Arkansas State Police handled the fatal-crash investigation and released the identification after Colvin’s death.
Because the crash involved only one vehicle, the preliminary report focuses on Colvin’s pickup and the sequence of the impact. No other vehicles were listed in the incident summary.
Single-vehicle fatal crashes often leave investigators piecing together a short chain of events. Here, the available details center on the truck running off the north side of the road, striking the embankment and overturning before catching fire.
What investigators have said so far about the wreck
Arkansas State Police have not released a fuller explanation for why the pickup left the roadway. The preliminary report does not mention a mechanical failure, a medical emergency, or another specific trigger.
For now, the agency’s account establishes the time, place and physical sequence of the crash. That includes the westbound travel, the departure from the highway, the creek embankment impact and the post-crash fire.
Preliminary fatal crash reports are often the first public record in a case like this. They provide an early snapshot while investigators document the scene and collect the information needed to determine exactly what happened.
Bradford loss underscores the danger of high-speed run-off-road crashes
Colvin’s death is a reminder of how quickly a run-off-road crash can become fatal, especially when a vehicle overturns and catches fire. Even in clear weather, a pickup leaving the lane can create a violent impact with little room for recovery.
The Highway 25 wreck also shows how isolated a single-vehicle crash can be. Without another driver involved, the outcome often depends on the severity of the impact and the immediate aftermath at the scene.
Arkansas State Police continue to maintain fatal crash reports as an important public record for families, local officials and drivers who want to understand where and how deadly collisions occur.
White River Now broadcasting and community news in the region
White River Now, which published the identification, also operates local news and weather updates for listeners across the region. Its coverage is part of a broader daily lineup that includes reports on multiple Arkansas radio stations.
The outlet invites readers to share news tips and community event information by email. It also promotes its mobile app and regular on-air updates through several stations serving north-central and northeastern Arkansas.
For readers in the area, the report adds a name to a crash that had already been recorded as fatal. It also provides a clearer picture of how the wreck unfolded on a quiet September evening near Charlotte.
Local news that matters, from Dulaney Griffin.
