Man killed in police crash

FORT SMITH — A Van Buren man died in an early morning crash Friday during a chase with police, according to a Police Department news release.

Victor Sallee, 56, was declared dead at the scene of the accident at Zero Street and Massard Road. Alcohol was believed to be a factor in the crash about 1:45 a.m., the release said.

Police Lt. Wes Milam said three officers have been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of the crash investigation.

The three were in separate vehicles and were at different locations on Zero Street during the chase, he said.

The chase began when an officer saw a fast-moving four-door sedan heading east on Zero Street, and he turned around to pursue it. The driver never traveled over the speed limit early on in the chase but drove erratically, the release said, at one point driving off the north side of Zero Street. At another point, the car accelerated rapidly away from the pursuing police.

As it approached the intersection with Massard Road, it encountered a pickup occupied by two people heading west on Zero Street.

“The truck attempted to swerve out of the way and avoid the collision but the fleeing vehicle veered suddenly, colliding with the truck head on,” the release said.

The occupants of the pickup were taken to a hospital, where they were treated and released.

Police pursing the vehicle immediately called for emergency medical personnel, according to the release.

Traffic on Massard Road and Zero Street, both fourlane roads, was routed away from the intersection for hours while police investigated the accident.