Baxter County man arrested for causing fatal accident in July

A Baxter County man has been arrested for causing a fatal accident in July after he admitted to smoking marijuana prior to the crash. Sixty-seven-year-old Joseph Paul Robinson of Lakeview is facing a felony charge of negligent homicide and a misdemeanor charge of driving while intoxicated – drugs.

According to the probable cause affidavit from the Arkansas State Police, the vehicle in front of Robinson had stopped to make a left hand turn. Robinson was following too closely and crossed the centerline to avoid that vehicle and struck another vehicle head-on, killing that driver. His vehicle also hit the vehicle that was waiting to make the turn.

The victim, 87-year-old Benjamin P. Lohmeyer of Mountain Home, was taken to Cox Medical Center South in Springfield where he later died from his injuries. Also injured and treated at Cox were 82-year-old Melva White of Mountain Home, a passenger in Lohmeyer’s vehicle, and Robinson. The driver of the third vehicle was not listed as injured.

The trooper noted in the affidavit while speaking to Robinson he had blood shot eyes and said he had smoked marijuana before the crash. Marijuana was found inside his vehicle. Standardized field sobriety tests could not be done due to the extent of Robinson’s injuries. Robinson did consent to a blood draw which was sent to the Arkansas State Crime Lab. The results were positive for the presence of cannabis.

The crash happened on Arkansas State Highway 178 just west of Midway at the intersection of Busch Lane July 2.

Robinson was booked into the Baxter County Detention Center Wednesday afternoon and released after posting $5,000 bond. His first court appearance is scheduled for Jan. 5.

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