WEST MEMPHIS, Ark. — The family of the 75-year-old truck driver involved in the wrong-way driving incident last week on the Memphis-Arkansas Bridge says he’s been released from the hospital, while at the same time, online court records appear to show a warrant for his arrest for failing to appear in court.
Christopher Plummer told NEA Report that his uncle, John R. Vosburgh, 75, is back home in Kentucky. He was released from the hospital on Sept. 1. Plummer said he is feeling better and has not seen the video. Family members caught him up on the events.
“Like the rest of the family, he is glad no one was hurt,” Plummer said in a text with this reporter.
Family members suspected a medical issue to be the cause of the episode.
Arkansas State Police said last week that they’re waiting on toxicology results before a decision to charge him will be made. An email today (11:38 AM on Sept. 4, 2025) from ASP Communications Director Cindy Murphy stated that there were no updates.
However, online court records show two cases filed against Vosburgh on Aug. 28.
WMS-25-3019 includes charges of DWI with CDL and refusal to submit. WMS-25-3020 includes charges of failing to obey a police officer, reckless driving, driving the wrong way, and refusal to submit to arrest. Both cases were set for plea and arraignment at 9:30 AM on Aug. 29, 2025. Court filings show that a failure-to-appear warrant was issued when the defendant did not appear in court.
ASP Spokesperson Murphy said she was passing the information along and would see if their team had anything new. This section may be updated if more is released.
Family was unaware of the warrant for his arrest when they were told by a reporter today (Sept. 4, 2025). However, Plummer stated that Vosburgh was not released from the hospital until Sept. 1, three days after his court appearance.
The incident report was not available online, but NEA Report obtained it through a records request to the Arkansas State Police. Trooper First Class Dairren Evans wrote this in his report:
On August 26th, 2025, at approximately 10:12 A.M., Troop D Dispatch alerted State Police Units of a semi truck driving the wrong direction on Interstate 55 south, nearing the bridge. I, Trooper First Class Dairren Evans #573, respond to the call by cutting through Memphis, Tennessee, due to traffic backing up into Arkansas.
As units responded to the call, Troop D Dispatch gave an update that the semi could be seen on the traffic cameras driving north in the southbound lanes on the bridge and forcing vehicles out of its way. Once I got onto the bridge, I observed the semi driving north in the southbound lanes and attempting to force other vehicles out of its way.
I exited my patrol car and climbed onto the concrete dividing wall to contact the driver. I knocked on the passenger side window of the slow-moving truck to get the driver’s attention. The driver acknowledged my presence by rolling down the passenger side window a few inches. I then instructed the driver to turn the vehicle off, to which he answered, “Let me get across the bridge first,” and continued to ease forward.
As the vehicle moved forward towards innocent motorists, I drew my service weapon and told the driver to stop the vehicle. The driver stopped the vehicle but continued to plead with me to let him cross the bridge. I then jumped from the concrete dividing wall and ran to the driver’s side of the vehicle. I opened the door and advised the driver, later identified as John Vosburgh of Kentucky, to get out of the vehicle.
John then verbally agreed to get out of the vehicle, but he placed his left hand with a stiffened arm on the B-pillar of the vehicle, his right hand gripped tightly with white knuckles on the steering wheel, and he wedged his right foot under the gas pedal. I was able to remove John’s right hand from the steering wheel; however, he was still physically resisting coming out of the vehicle.
As I was attempting to defeat his stiff arm and foot hold, Trooper Dylan Evans #178 arrived on scene. With the other troopers’ assistance, we were able to successfully remove John from the vehicle. We immediately placed John on his belly on the ground next to the truck and placed him in custody.
As we stood John up, he constantly stated that if we would take the handcuffs off of him, he would continue driving the truck across the bridge. We quickly resolved traffic issues and successfully cleared the vehicle from the roadway.
At this time, we moved all units to the 1 exit off Interstate 55 south. I advised John of his Miranda rights, and he acknowledged that he understood them. I questioned John on why he was going the wrong way, and his answer was “I got confused.” I then asked at what point he knew he was driving the wrong way, and he answered “immediately.” I then asked why he did not stop and call someone for help, and he stated, “Who was I going to call, and I just had to make it across the bridge.”
During this conversation, I noticed John had pinpoint pupils and a delayed response to stimuli, which, based on my training and experience, is consistent with people under the influence. An ambulance was called to the scene to evaluate John’s medical condition.
The Emergency Medical Technician stated that due to non-threatening vital readings, they were going to transport John to Baptist Crittenden in West Memphis, Arkansas.
Based on criminal history, manner of driving, and several other factors of impairment, I decided to request a urine sample from John for a driving while intoxicated test.
I went into the hospital with John and began reading the paperwork needed before testing. As I was reading the statement of rights form, I could see a change in John’s demeanor. I then attempted to give John the form to read over himself and sign if he understood, but he would not remove his hands from his chest to receive the form.
John began asking, “What do you want from me?” repeatedly. I then asked John simple questions such as “What is today’s date?” or “What were you doing this morning?” and so on, to which John could answer with no issues. I then returned to the statement of rights form, and again John only answered with “What do you want from me?” This pattern continued for approximately 15 minutes; each time I would change the line of questions and get answers back, but when trying to address the statement of rights, John would revert to his only question. Even when I answered the question, John would only repeat it.
Based on these actions, I believed John was attempting to elude the topic altogether.
John Vosburgh was cited at the hospital as they wanted to monitor him further.
John Vosburgh was charged with the following:
27-50-308(b)(1)(B) 1ST: RECKLESS DRIVING – 1ST
27-51-304: DRIVING WRONG WAY ON ONE-WAY ROADWAY
5-54-103(b): REFUSAL TO SUBMIT TO ARREST
27-49-107: FAIL TO OBEY POLICE OFFICER
5-65-205: REFUSAL TO SUBMIT TO CHEMICAL TEST
5-65-103 1ST: DRIVING WHILE INTOXICATED – DWI 1ST
Online court records also show an administrative license suspension filed against Vosburg.
NEA Report will continue to follow this story for updates. This article may be updated if more is learned related to the charges, the apparent warrant, or what the toxicology test results show.
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