Authorities say a driver allowing two people to stand on top of his SUV while it was moving on a roadway has been cited for 11 violations, including endangering the welfare of minors.
According to information filed in Independence County Circuit Court, the incident occurred Sunday, May 31, on Lock 2 Road in the county.
Independence County Sheriff’s Deputy Zach Spohr met the vehicle while on patrol and turned on his emergency lights for a traffic stop. According to his report, Spohr said instead of stopping, the SUV sped away from the deputy.
The driver, identified in the court information as Justin Lee Hager, 27, finally pulled over after he had driven onto Heber Springs Road and then onto the Batesville Motor Speedway lot. Spohr ordered Hager out of the vehicle at gunpoint and put him into hand restraints, the court information said.
The deputy noted that there were six children in the vehicle and allowed their mother to take care of them, the court info said.
Hager was taken to the Independence County Jail where he was issued a citation for 11 violations including:
- Fleeing
- Reckless driving
- Driving without a license
- Driving left of center
- Not using a seat belt
- No proof of liability insurance
- Failure to pay registration fees
- Fictitious tags
- Failure to signal
- Disregarding a Stop or Yield sign
- And endangering the welfare of a minor.
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