On Saturday July 19th, 2014 at approximately 7:02 P.M. the Newton County Sheriff's Office received a call for assistance in the Hasty, Arkansas area after a teenaged boy had reportedly fallen from the back of a pickup on Newton County road 3800.

            Deputies responded to the scene to find 14-year-old Judson Stoltzfus, of the Harrison, Arkansas area, lying in the road, apparently deceased.

            Stoltzfus had been a passenger in the bed of a 1997 Ford F-250, driven by a 16-year-old friend of Stoltzfus from Western Grove, Arkansas.

The victim, along with several friends and family members had been swimming at the Buffalo River and were riding back to the highway, with several riding in the bed of the pickup.

According to the driver and passengers a dog ran into the road, causing the driver to swerve to avoid it. Stolzfus lost his balance and fell from the back of the truck and the rear tire ran over him.

            First Responders and EMS personnel were notified, but Stoltzfus was pronounced dead at the scene by the Newton County Coroner’s Office.

            Deputies investigating the accident said that neither speed nor negligence appeared to be a factor and no charges were being filed at this time.