Update: July I-530 Fatal Hit-And-Run, Kalei Owen
Update: July I-530 Fatal Hit-And-Run, Kalei Owen
Arkansas State Police stonewalling, denies release of 911 calls repeatedly
A Benton County circuit judge signed an order Tuesday granting Melinda Owen, the mother of Kalei Owen, the 19-year-old hit-and-run fatality on July 3 in Jefferson County, as the “special administratrix for authority to contract with counsel add file suit or pursue settlement on behalf of the estate.”
The original petition filed Monday in Benton County states: “The Estate has a wrongful death and/or survival action, as Decedent died in a motor vehicle collision that was not her fault. The appointment of legal counsel is necessary for representation of the Estate in an action for monetary damages relating to the death of the Decedent in an amount to be subsequently determined.”
A July 4th Arkansas State Police press release about the accident stated:
Arkansas State Police investigators are asking the public to help identify the driver of a vehicle that struck and killed a 19-year-old Bentonville woman late Wednesday, July 3, 2024, on Interstate 530 in Jefferson County.
Witnesses reported that the vehicle struck Kalei Owen, 19, of Bentonville after she ran from a nearby wooded area into the roadway.
The suspect’s vehicle is believed to be a red Honda, model unknown, that will likely have damage to the front, passenger side and will be missing a fog light. The vehicle was traveling north on I-530 near exit 27 at about 10 p.m.
The deceased will be sent to the Arkansas State Crime Lab to determine the cause and manner of death.
ASP released another statement on July 5.
Pine Bluff, Ark. – Arkansas State Police investigators have identified the driver of a vehicle that struck and killed a 19-year-old Bentonville woman late Wednesday, July 3, 2024, on Interstate 530 in Jefferson County.
Kalei Owen, 19, of Bentonville died after being struck on I-530 near exit 27 at about 10 p.m.
ASP Criminal Investigation Division Company B is investigating the incident.
That driver's name has not been released.
Since July 10, South Arkansas Reckoning has attempted weekly to obtain 911 calls and documents concerning the Owen accident from Arkansas State Police.
Arkansas State Police repeatedly responds with the following:
Read Judge Doug Schrantz's signed order here.
I have so many questions, first mainly being why was she running from the woods at 10pm? Was someone chasing her?
Why hasn’t the one who hit her been revealed? Do they know “people”?
The 911 calls from the case against Philip Lee Reynolds was released before his victim was buried. If it was a hit and run and the person has been identified why have charges not been filed? The person left the scene of an accident with a fatality.