Inset: Matthew Jones (Greene County Jail). Background: The intersection area of Walcott and Spring Grove roads in Paragould, Arkansas, where authorities say Jones grabbed a vehicle’s steering wheel, triggering a crash (Google Maps).
An argument between an Arkansas man and his wife allegedly took a dangerous turn when he grabbed the steering wheel of the car she was driving, causing the vehicle to overturn while their children were inside, police said.
Matthew Jones, 37, has been charged with one count of aggravated assault on a family member and three counts of endangering the welfare of children, according to Greene County Jail records.
The crash happened shortly after 7 p.m. Saturday near Walcott and Spring Grove roads in Paragould, a city in northeastern Arkansas, according to an arrest affidavit obtained by local ABC affiliate KAIT.
Investigators said Jones’ wife was behind the wheel when the car veered off the road, hit a culvert and flipped over. Jones was riding in the vehicle along with his wife and the couple’s three children.
All five family members managed to get out of the overturned car without serious injuries, though Jones’ booking photo appears to show a cut on his forehead. When an officer at the scene asked what had happened, Jones’ wife looked at him and told her husband to explain, the affidavit reportedly states.
Jones allegedly told the officer that he had “messed with the steering wheel,” but maintained that he “didn’t do it on purpose.”
“We were bickering,” he said, according to the affidavit.
But his wife was not going to let him off easily and said her husband caused the crash when he pulled on the steering wheel.
Officers arrested Jones and took him to the Greene County Jail, where he remained as of Tuesday afternoon. His next court date is not listed.
The post Husband blames ‘bickering’ with wife for grabbing steering wheel, causing car to flip over with 3 kids inside: Cops first appeared on Law & Crime.
