Mena Resident Charged with Two Counts of Negligent Homicide

Jeffery Clayton Cude, age 40 of Mena, was arrested and jailed Friday on two counts of Negligent Homicide and Battery In The Second Degree.

Cude was involved in an accident east of Board Camp in Polk County on February 8, 2020 that resulted in the deaths of two Montgomery County women and the injury of a juvenile when the two vehicles collided.

According to the Arkansas State Police Report, a Ford F250 truck driven by Jeffery Clayton Cude, age 40 of Mena, was eastbound and crossed the center line hitting head on a west bound Chrysler van driven by Roseanna Markham, age 69 of Norman, Arkansas and occupied by Deborah Jean Black, age 68 also of Norman, Arkansas, as well as an unidentified minor. Both Markham and Black were pronounced dead the scene by the Polk County Coroner.

Two medical helicopters were requested for the injured, one of which was flown to Baptist Fort Smith and the other to Children’s in Little Rock.

The accident was investigated by Arkansas State Police Officer Ben Harrison.

The Polk County Sheriff’s Office, Board Camp Fire Department, Dallas Valley Fire Department, Mena Fire Department, and Southwest EMS also responded and assisting at the scene.

Cude is being held in the Polk County Detention Center with bond set at $250,000.00.

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Jeri Pearson

Jeri is the News Director for Pulse Multi-Media and Editor of The Polk County Pulse. She has 10 years of experience in community focused journalism and has won multiple press association awards.

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