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 with The Trucker since 2020, picking up the reins as managing editor in 2022. Linda has nearly 40 years of experience in the publishing industry, covering topics from the trucking and automotive industry to employment, real estate, home decor, crafts, cooking, weddings, high school sports — you name it, she’s written about it. She is also an experienced photographer, designer and copy editor who has a heartfelt love for the trucking industry, from the driver’s seat to the C-suite.
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.