Sunday morning at approximately 9:28 am the Baxter County Sheriff’s Office responded to a 911 call of a report that a car had hit a house at 4683 CR 27, Northwest of Mountain Home.  Sgt. Mike Holland arrived at the residence and found the home owner, 50 year old Donald Mears and driver of the vehicle, 35 year old Brian Scott Merrifield of Lakeview standing in the yard. 

The investigation revealed Brian Merrifield was Northbound on CR 27 and failed to stop at the stop sign at its intersection with CR 25.  The 1995 Honda Accord driven by Merrifield traveled 209 feet through the yard of Mears striking a hot tub that was on the back patio and the rear of the residence. The vehicle then traveled 103 more feet before stopping.  

The impact by the vehicle to the house took out two walls of the residence and pushed a family room sofa across the room striking Mr. Mears 13 year old son who was watching television. The vehicle just missed a bedroom where a two other children were sleeping. Evidence at the scene also showed the vehicle had been accelerating from the time it left the County Road until after it struck the house. 

The House sustained damages estimated at $75,000 or more, the vehicle was a total loss. At the time of the accident there were two adults and four children in the residence. No one was injured.

Sgt Mike Holland was assisted by Arkansas State Trooper Britt Clements, a certified Drug Recognition Expert, with the accident investigation and testing of the driver of the vehicle. 

 35 year old Brian Scott Merrifield, was arrested without incident and charged with: 

DWI #1 (Drugs), Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Careless Driving.

Merrifield was booked into the Baxter County Detention Center and is being held on bond of $1310.00 pending his appearance in Baxter County District Court on October 10^th at 9 am.

Sheriff John Montgomery