Arkansas Deputies Investigating Teen’s Drowning

Sharp County Sheriff’s Department investigators believe alcohol may have played a role in the drowning of a 17-year-old boy in the Spring River. Deputies say the drowning happened around 1 a.m. Saturday at the L.B. Access to the river.

Sharp County Coroner Doug Wortham had said the river bank collapsed, causing Clint Jackson to fall into the water, but deputies said the river bank already had eroded from past flooding.

They told KAIT-TV that after further investigation they believe his fall was due to alcohol intoxication. Investigators spoke to several teens who with Jackson earlier and all acknowledged he had been drinking.

Deputies say the teens told them they got the alcohol at a Poinsett County liquor store by getting an unidentified man to purchase it for them.