ARDOT employee killed during highspeed chase on I-55

Car found engulfed in flames, suspect still at-large

By DONALD WILBURN

donaldfwilburn@gmail.com

An ARDOT construction worker lost his life and another was severely injured after being struck on Interstate 55 during a police chase in West Memphis on Wednesday night.

According to Arkansas State Police, the incident began when a suspect in a maroon Corvette was pulled over by the West Memphis Police Department on Broadway and subsequently ed the scene. The suspect led law enforcement on a highspeed chase from West Memphis into Memphis, where the suspect drove into construction workers who were working on the I-55 bridge.

Tragically, one of the workers, identi_ed as Justin Delgado, 36, of Lola, Texas, was pronounced

See ARDOT, page A2

Justin Delgado’s life was cut tragically short last week when he was killed in a senseless act of violence. His murderer is still at-large.

Image via Facebook ARDOT

From page A1

dead at the scene. The other worker was rushed to a Memphis hospital for treatment and is currently in critical condition.

Memphis Police later located the burnt-out Corvette in the 200 block of West McKellar Avenue. The driver remains at large, and the investigation is ongoing.

The pursuit commenced around 10p.m. on Wednesday, following a routine traffic stop by West Memphis Police. The suspect fled onto I-55, striking the workers near Mile Marker 3.

The construction workers were part of the Louis Company based in Grain Valley, Missouri. A company spokesperson declined to provide a statement.

During last Thursday’s City Council meeting, Mayor Marco McClendon requested a moment of silence in memory of Delgado.

While Arkansas State Troopers were not directly involved in the pursuit, they are conducting an investigation into the tragic incident in conjunction with the WMPD.