Driver pleads innocent in death

Son, 7, killed, 3 other children hurt in collision with train

MALVERN — Sara Rae Morris pleaded innocent Monday in the March 6 train-collision death of her 7-year-old son.

Morris, 29, entered several innocent pleas to Circuit Judge Eddy Easley. She was charged in July with manslaughter, three counts of endangering the welfare of a minor in the first degree, and possession of methamphetamine.

Trial was set for Oct. 31 in Hot Spring County Circuit Court. Morris, who entered the courtroom in handcuffs and street clothes, was released on $10,000 bond. Prosecution and defense attorneys told the judge that Morris had no prior felony history, had surrendered after being charged, and was not a flight risk.

Several relatives of David Owen Tucker, who died in the crash, rushed from the courtroom as Morris left through another exit. Tyffani Tucker, who said she was David’s aunt, said outside the courtroom: “We just want justice for these kids.”

Her reference was to David and three other children in a 2007 Chevrolet Trailblazer that was struck by a Union Pacific train about 1 p.m. March 6.

Their names were redacted in an accident report filed by the Arkansas State Police. None of the names of the children was included in a criminal information filed July 19 in Hot Spring Circuit Court.

An obituary in the Saline Courier on March 12 identified Morris as David Tucker’s mother. Chris Tucker of Benton was identified as David’s father.

Hot Spring County Coroner Ernest Cox confirmed

David’s identity.

Manslaughter is a Class C felony, as is possession of methamphetamine. Endangering the welfare of a minor is a Class D felony.

An affidavit filed by Special Agent Jimmie Thomas II of the state police described the collision on Old Dixsonville Road in rural Hot Spring County.

Morris was driving the Trailblazer and heading east as the train approached the

crossing from the south.

A review of a video recording obtained from Union Pacific confirmed that the vehicle “stopped momentarily prior to the crossing and then accelerated to the point of impact as the train approached,” the affidavit said.

The Trailblazer was pushed 120 feet before it left the tracks, then continued to travel 135 feet alongside the tracks.

A statement from a railroad employee said one child in the front seat “had [his] head out of sunroof when impact was made.”

David Tucker was in the front passenger seat and pronounced dead at the scene. Three other children — a 9-year-old boy, an 8-year-old girl, and a 9-year-old girl — were taken to hospitals, as was Morris, the affidavit said. The affidavit did not specify any relationships among the children or with Morris.

The affidavit said a blood sample from Morris tested positive for oxycodone, methamphetamine, marijuana and benzodiazepines. Methamphetamine and marijuana were found in the vehicle, the affidavit said.