A young TV reporter in Arkansas was killed in a motorcycle crash, authorities revealed.
On Monday, 22-year old Haven Hughes died after the motorcycle that she was riding crashed into a vehicle, leaving the TV reporter dead at the scene, The City of Little Rock said in an official statement.
According to the Arkansas police department, the driver of the motorcycle who was identified as 34-year-old Mark Hudson, suffered life-threatening injuries.
Meanwhile, no charges have been filed against the 46-year-old driver of the vehicle but city officials revealed that the driver had already “provided a urine sample for toxicology testing.
Hughes was known for her role as a correspondent at KARK 4 News and Fox 16 News in August. She graduated from Henderson State University in Arkadelphia in 2022.
According to the Little Rock TV station, “it was all coming together for her.”
“Her smile was bright and always backed up with an energetic and positive approach to life. She understood the responsibility of telling other people’s stories and was thrilled with being able to do it here in her home state, in her hometown and among family and friends.”’ KARK said in a statement.
The station also revealed that Hughes was covering Martin Luther King Jr. events for the station before she died following the vehicular accident.
Following her passing, her Colleagues released statements, remembering Hughes as a “beautiful soul” and a “sweet, kind and dedicated reporter.”
“She took constructive criticism with a smile, handled the tough days like a champ, and brought light and laughter into our newsroom. She was growing and improving every day and I am so incredibly proud of how far she’s come and her positive attitude no matter what.” KARK reporter Caitrin Assaf said.
“It broke all of our hearts at #Team20 to learn of her passing. She always brought positive energy.” Gary Burton Jr. added.
Julian Jones also said that he was “thankful and blessed” to be a part of Hughe’s journey.
“When you first started working at the station and I was assigned to help train you, we clicked like no other! It was as if this partnership was meant to be.” Jones added.
Moreover, Chris Counts, a digital content producer at KARK, also called Hughes “pure potential.”
“She was made of kinetic positivity and kindness, always upbeat and on a path of wanting to be better than the self she was the day before. She was living her dream right in front of us and building even more dreams as she went.” Counts claimed.
