Copyright Arkansas Online
BENTONVILLE -- A Bentonville woman is accused of being intoxicated which led to man's death last year in a multivehicle crash. Caron Hardt, 67, was arrested last week in connection with negligent homicide, driving while intoxicated, careless and prohibited driving and driving left of center. Prosecutors have not filed any formal charges against her. She is free on $75,000 bond. Benton County sheriff's deputies responded at 5 p.m. Nov. 14, 2024, to the area of Arkansas 72 and Oak Tree Drive for a crash involving three sports utility vehicles, according to a probable cause affidavit. Edward Gadient, 57, of Pineville, Mo., was the driver of one of the vehicles, and he was transported to Mercy Hospital in Rogers where he died, according to the affidavit. Carrie Higginbotham was a passenger in another of the vehicles, the affidavit states. The driver and other occupants of that vehicle were released from the scene. Higginbotham said she was traveling westbound on Arkansas 72 when she saw a vehicle begin to slowly leave its lane crossing the centerline and enter the westbound land, and that then vehicle swiped the rear end of the vehicle she was in, according to the affidavit. Two witness told deputies they saw the vehicle driving into the oncoming lane and hit a white vehicle head on, the affidavit states. Hardt was the driver of the vehicle in the oncoming lane, and Gadient was the driver of the white vehicle, according to the affidavit. Hardt was transported to Washington Regional Medical Center in Fayetteville for possible internal injuries, the affidavit states. Deputies obtained Hardt's medical records in December from her hospital stay, and a review of the hematology results revealed Hardt's ethanol level was 94 milligrams per deciliter, equating to a 0.09% blood alcohol content, which was in excess of the legal limit of 0.08%, according to court documents. The affidavit claims the crash was a result of careless driving/failure to maintain control, crossing the centerline and driving while intoxicated. Hardt's arraignment is set for 8 a.m. Dec. 8 in Benton County Circuit Judge Brad Karren's court.
