MULBERRY, Ark. — Arkansas authorities said Monday, Aug. 30, that they still don’t know how a trucker, whose body was found more than a week ago inside his rig in the Arkansas River, died.
First responders found the body Marcus Brian Hill, 55, of Ozark, Arkansas, on Sunday, Aug. 22, after pulling his truck to shore on Vine Road near Mulberry, according to the Crawford County Sheriff’s Office.
Sheriff’s office Captain James Mirus said most of the vehicle was submerged when investigators arrived at the scene just before 9 p.m. Aug. 22. He said waterflow made it difficult for first responders to recover the semi.
Mirus said on Monday that Hill’s body has been sent to the Arkansas State Crime Lab for further investigation.
“Right now, we are waiting on that report,” Mirus said. “After that, we will have more information.”
An Aug. 23 Facebook post by The Mulberry Fire Department showed photos of the wrecked rig. The tractor was fully submerged, up to the front section of the trailer.
There were several comments on the post as well. Ray Crozier Sr. wrote that Hill was his best friend.
“I would like some answers,” Crozier wrote.
Facebook user Kayla Hatfield described Hill as a “nice guy. Known him for most of my life. I’m proud of the workers that people that helped pull the truck and trailer out of the water. But you will forever be missed.”
Linda Garner-Bunch has been in publishing for more than 30 years. You name it, Linda has written about it. She has served as an editor for a group of national do-it-yourself publications and has coordinated the real estate section of Arkansas’ only statewide newspaper, in addition to working on a variety of niche publications ranging from bridal magazines to high-school sports previews and everything in between. She is also an experienced photographer and copy editor who enjoys telling the stories of the “Knights of the Highway,” as she calls our nation’s truck drivers.
What a shame. My heart goes out to this man’s family and friends.
Truckers are very special individuals and a lot is owed to them for the hours they put in delivering freight nation wide and what they endure out on the road. It is a very stressful job that receives little recordnition.
May God Bless this family and give them the strength to face the days ahead.