Alisa Long Killed, Nathan Tackett Injured in Car Accident in Pope County, AR

Pope County, AR — February 10, 2025, Alisa Long was killed following a car accident that occurred at around 9:52 P.M. on I-40.

An investigation is underway into a car accident that left one person dead and injured another during the evening hours of February 10th. According to official reports, Alisa Long was travelling with Nathan Tuckett in a Nissan on I-40 in the westbound lanes,when for unknown reasons the vehicle hydroplaned and lost control, leaving the roadway and striking a ditch causing the car to flip on its roof.

As a result of the impact, the vehicle sustained significant damage and when first responders arrived on the scene, they found that Long had sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced deceased, while Tuckett sustained serious injuries and was transported to the hospital. At this time there has been no further information released from the accident, including the status of Tuckett’s injuries, however this is an ongoing investigation and more details may be released in the future.

Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman

When I see reports of a crash like this, my first thought is whether investigators will be able to determine exactly what happened. While hydroplaning is often cited as a cause of loss of control, it’s important to remember that road conditions alone don’t always tell the full story. To get real answers, there are three critical questions that need to be addressed.

The first question is whether authorities conducted a thorough investigation. Law enforcement does its best with the resources available, but not all agencies have specialized crash reconstruction units. In cases like this, investigators should be looking at more than just the fact that the road was wet. Were there any roadway design issues that contributed to the crash? Did tire tread depth or inflation play a role? Were there any other vehicles nearby that could have contributed? Without a detailed examination, these questions may never be answered.

The second question is whether a vehicle defect could have played a role. While hydroplaning is often associated with weather conditions, mechanical failures—such as faulty tires, braking system malfunctions, or stability control issues—can also contribute to a loss of control. The Nissan involved in the crash should be preserved and examined to determine whether everything was functioning properly at the time of the accident. Unfortunately, vehicle defects are often overlooked in crash investigations simply because most departments don’t have the resources to conduct forensic mechanical inspections.

The final question is whether all available electronic data has been collected. Many modern vehicles, including Nissans, are equipped with an electronic control module (ECM) that records vital information like speed, braking, and steering inputs in the moments before a crash. Additionally, surveillance footage from nearby businesses, dashcam recordings, and even cell phone data could provide further insights into what happened. If investigators don’t move quickly to obtain this data, it could be lost before anyone realizes its importance.

At the end of the day, determining why this crash happened isn’t just a matter of documentation—it’s about making sure all the right questions have been asked and answered. If external factors, mechanical failures, or missing data played a role, those affected by this crash deserve to know. Serious crashes change lives in an instant, and at the very least, the community owes it to those involved to find out exactly what happened.