GARFIELD, Ark. — A Garfield man has pleaded not guilty to charges stemming from a fatal crash that resulted in the death of a teenage motorcyclist in July 2024. Gregory Payne, 46, was arrested on July 27 and faces charges of negligent homicide, leaving the scene of an accident involving personal injury, and driving while intoxicated (third offense).
Payne’s trial is scheduled to begin June 3, 2025, after an omnibus hearing set for March 25.
According to a probable cause affidavit, the incident occurred when a witness reported seeing two motorbikes pass by his home. The witness then heard a crash and immediately went to the scene. He found Payne standing over the body of the victim, a minor, and noticed a strong odor of alcohol on Payne. The affidavit states that Payne appeared intoxicated, with glassy eyes and slurred speech, and open liquor bottles were found inside his vehicle.
The witness placed the injured teen in Payne’s truck and drove to the fire station while calling 911. The victim was later pronounced dead at the scene. The second motorcyclist, another minor, was uninjured. According to this minor, the crash occurred when the victim’s motorbike crossed into oncoming traffic and was struck head-on by Payne’s pickup truck, which had come around a curve.
When deputies located Payne, he was found sitting in his driveway, and he told authorities he had left the scene to check on his son. Despite being visibly intoxicated, Payne allegedly refused to complete field sobriety tests, prompting deputies to obtain a warrant for a blood sample.
Payne has a criminal history that includes at least five previous DWI convictions since 2004, as well as 14 prior arrests dating back to 1997. He is currently being held in the Benton County Detention Center on a $300,000 bond and has been ordered to have no contact with the victim’s family or the unharmed minor involved in the crash.
The case is ongoing, with Payne set to face a jury later this year.