Arkansas police officer killed while escorting Wreaths Across America trucks

A Benton County Sheriff’s Office Detective lost his life over the weekend while escorting a procession of trucks for Wreaths Across America.

The incident occurred around 6:30 a.m on Saturday, December 17, in Bentonville, Arkansas.

Authorities say that 51 year old Benton County Sheriff’s Office Detective Paul Daniel Newell was on a motorcycle escorting trucks for Wreath Across America near the intersection of Southeast Walton Boulevard and Southeast Metro Parkway.

Newell was eastbound in the center turn lane on Walton Boulevard when he lost control, struck a curb, then struck a 2022 Freightliner that was also traveling east.

The semi truck driver was not injured in the crash.

Newell was a 24 year veteran of the Benton County Sheriff’s Office.

Wreaths Across America is organization that provides wreaths to lay on graves at Veteran cemeteries across the U.S.