WRECK SCENE

Update from David Goins of Fox 16 on the accident in which a car plowed into a pack of cross-country bicyclists near McCrory this week:

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McCRORY, AR – Arkansas State Police confirm one of the seven cyclists injured in an accident Tuesday in Woodruff County has died.

According to a fatal crash report released Thursday, Merritt Levitan, 18, of Milton, Massachusetts died as a result of injuries sustained in the accident north of McCrory.

Levitan and twelve others were on the American Challenge a six week cross country bike trip from South Carolina to California when a car struck seven riders on Highway 17 around 4:30pm Tuesday.

Tom & Liz Costley of Overland Travel in Massachusetts released the following statement on the company’s website:

“This morning we received confirmation that Merritt Levitan of Milton, Massachusetts, died as a result of injuries sustained in a terrible incident that occurred outside of McCrory, Arkansas, while participating in an Overland bicycle touring program. Liz and I, and the entire Overland community, are heartsick by this tragic loss. We extend our deepest condolences to Merritt’s family, friends and loved ones.”

ASP detectives have questioned the driver of the vehicle, Teagan Ross Martin, 21, of Newport. As of Wednesday, the investigation remained on-going with the case file set to be handed over to the Woodruff County prosecutor.

No charges have been filed.

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NOTE: The original version of the story carried the victim’s name incorrectly.

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