An affidavit prepared by the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office notes statements by Arkansas State Trooper Brian Palmer, who investigated the collision that killed Shana Farrer, 53, on Thursday, August 18, 2022.
Palmer’s statement said that Austin Hunter, 25, of McNeil, who was driving a 2016 International truck hauling a flatbed trailer east on U.S. 82, made slight effort to stop at the North Vine intersection before slamming into the driver’s side of Farrar’s northbound 2013 Honda Civic about 5:17 p.m.
There’s evidence that Hunter was using his cell phone and the Snapchat application when the wreck happened. His blood also tested positive for Delta-9 Caboxy THC, and Delta-9 THC, which online sources say may indicate recent marijuana use.
Hunter is scheduled to appear next Thursday in Columbia County Circuit Court for a hearing on the charge.
Palmer’s statement said that Hunter’s truck ran through the red light at the intersection. Farrer died at the scene. Hunter wasn’t injured and was not identified in the initial Arkansas State Police report of the wreck for that reason. But he was taken to Magnolia Regional Medical Center to have blood drawn, and the affidavit said he gave a statement to Palmer at that time.
“Hunter stated that he attempted to slow the truck down when he observed that the light was turning red. Hunter states that when he realized he could not slow down in time that he pulled into the passing lane and applied the engine brake of (the) truck to attempt to slow the vehicle. Hunter stated that he had slowed to around 35-40 mph around the time of the collision,” the probable cause affidavit said.
The affidavit said the day after the wreck, Palmer obtained a video from a nearby store that showed the collision taking place.
“Trooper Palmer watched the video several times and confirmed that the truck driven by Hunter did fail to yield to the red light. Trooper Palmer counted approximately 6 seconds from the time the red light tums red until the truck driven by Hunter collided with the Honda Civic. Trooper Palmer observed that the truck driven by Hunter did not appear to break nor try to reduce speed prior to impact. Trooper Palmer’s observations are consistent with minimal skid marks observed at the scene of the collision from the truck driven by Hunter.
“After investigating the scene and the collision troopers with the Arkansas State Police believe Hunter to possibly been distracted while operating the vehicle which resulted in the truck driven by Hunter failing to stop at the red light,” the affidavit said.
The Arkansas State Police obtained a warrant for Hunter’s cell phone. The affidavit said a digital analysis of the phone indicated that Snapchat was in use for several seconds prior to and during the time of the collision.
The Arkansas Crime Lab informed Palmer on November 21 that Delta-9 Caboxy THC and Delta-9 THC were present in Hunter’s blood sample.
An arrest warrant against Hunter was served on May 19 and he was released on $100,000 bond. Hunter is represented by Garnet E. Norwood of TexARKana.
Manslaughter is a Class C felony in Arkansas. It is punishable by a sentence of 3-10 years in the Arkansas Department of Corrections, and a fine of up to $10,000.
Shana Farrer, the victim, was an assistant supervisor at a Dollar General store in Magnolia. She was survived by her husband, Jeff Farrer; and two children.
Shana Farrer was killed in a collision at the intersection of North Vine and U.S. 82 in Magnolia on August 18, 2022. A manslaughter charge has been filed in the case.
