Marion County Woman Arrested After Traffic Crash

A Marion County woman has been arrested and is being held on a $100,000 bond following a two-vehicle accident Nov. 5 that sent four people to the hospital for treatment of their injuries.

According to the probable cause affidavit filed Friday, 28-year-old Aleena Ann Minks of Flippin is facing a felony charge of possession of a controlled substance, Schedule I/II; three counts of endangering the welfare of a minor; and four counts of battery. In addition, Minks has been charged with two misdemeanor offenses of possession of controlled substances and single counts of possession of drug paraphernalia, driving while intoxicated and careless and prohibited driving.

The charges follow the vehicle accident on State Highway 178 at Fairview about 4 p.m.

The Arkansas State Police trooper responding to the crash reported Minks exhibited slurred speech. She told the trooper after she picked up her children at the Fairview Fire Department, her vehicle was struck by a second one in the oncoming lane.

Witness testimony indicated Minks’ vehicle first traveled into the path of a pickup whose driver was forced to slow considerably to avoid a collision. Mink’s vehicle continued for a few hundred feet before entering the oncoming lane and colliding with another auto in a near head-on collision.

The occupants of the vehicle Minks struck were identified as Candace and John Winter. Both were taken by ambulance to Baxter Regional Medial Center. John Winter was then flown to Mercy Hospital in Springfield for treatment of multiple injuries, including several broken bones.

Also injured were two of the three children in Minks’ vehicle. The children were reportedly treated for possible concussions.

The trooper noted Minks was wearing a gray jacket. After being asked to perform a series of field sobriety test, Minks was advised she was being taken to the Marion County Sheriff’s Office. She reportedly became upset and wanted to go to her car. She also asked to get her jacket that had been left on the ground where she had been sitting.

A check of the jacket led to the discovery of multiple drugs and paraphernalia, including alprazolam, oxycodone, marijuana, scales and tweezers.

Minks maintained she had a medical card for the marijuana. However, it was not packaged from a dispensary.

(From KTLO)