Authorities identify body

A body found in the floodwaters of an Arkansas creek Thursday was identified Friday as a man reported missing in January, authorities said.

Jon Boutilier, 61, of Bismarck suffered fatal injuries as a result of a Jan. 2 crash on Arkansas 7 near Blue Bird Lane in Hot Spring County, according to a preliminary crash report from Arkansas State Police.

Boutilier’s 2005 Chevrolet Trailblazer left the road on its right side, state police said. He was reported missing Jan. 3, the Hot Spring County sheriff’s office said.

The report did not list what time of the day the wreck took place or what the weather conditions were.

Boutilier’s death is one of at least 48 in traffic crashes on Arkansas roads so far this year, according to preliminary state police figures.

His body was recovered from the floodwaters of a creek in the county near Arkansas 7 North on Thursday, the sheriff’s office previously said.

In a news release on Friday, the sheriff’s office said “On

3/1/18, the Sheriff’s Office received call of an unidentified body that was discovered in a flooded creek on Highway 7. Investigation was conducted by the State Police and Sheriff’s Office.

After the investigation it was discovered that the body was Jon Boutilier, which had been reported missing on

1/3/2018. The body was identified by family members. Report from Crime Lab states cause of death was Vehicle Accident.”