Washington County Quorum Court Delays Sheriff's Office Investigation Discussion, Raising Accountability Questions

Justice for Gavin: Man Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison for Fatal Drunk Driving Crash that Killed 14-Year-Old Boy

A Garfield man, Gregory Payne, 47, has been sentenced to 15 years in the Arkansas Department of Corrections for his role in a 2024 drunk driving crash that resulted in the death of 14-year-old Gavin Bivens. The tragic incident, which cut short a young life, has brought the issue of drunk driving to the forefront in the local community and highlighted the devastating consequences of such reckless actions.The fatal crash occurred on July 27, 2024, in Garfield, a small town in Benton County. Gavin Bivens was riding his motorbike on a side road, a route his mother testified he frequented and was considered safe. In a turn of events that would forever change the lives of those involved, Gregory Payne, driving under the influence, struck Gavin's motorbike.According to reports, Payne did not remain at the scene of the accident. A witness who heard the crash saw Payne standing over the boy, smelling of alcohol and appearing intoxicated, before walking away. The witness put the injured boy in Payne's truck and drove him to a nearby fire station, from where he was airlifted to a hospital. Tragically, Gavin succumbed to his injuries, which the Benton County Coroner's Office determined were consistent with blunt force trauma from the crash.The subsequent investigation revealed that Payne had a history of driving while intoxicated, with at least five prior DWI convictions dating back to 2004. He was found at his home, where he refused to take a field sobriety test. A search warrant was later obtained to test his blood, which confirmed he was intoxicated at the time of the crash.Payne was initially charged with negligent homicide, leaving the scene of an accident involving death, and driving while intoxicated. However, the negligent homicide charge was dropped shortly before the trial began on September 15, 2025. A charge of driving on an invalid license was added.After a trial, a jury found Gregory Payne guilty of leaving the scene of an accident involving death, driving while intoxicated, and driving on an invalid license. On September 17, 2025, he was sentenced to 15 years in prison and ordered to pay a fine of over $1000. He was also ordered to have no contact with Gavin's mother.Following the sentencing, Payne offered an apology to Gavin's family, stating, "To Gavin's family, if I could trade places, I would. I'm sorry for this terrible tragedy."Benton County Deputy Prosecutor Justin Harper explained that the negligent homicide charge was dropped because it was a "tough charge from the start" and that based on their interpretation of the law, it "tended to be a DWI plus." He added, "Based on the crash reconstruction, the medical examiner's report other information we received, we decided we couldn't go forward with that charge."This heartbreaking case serves as a stark reminder of the dangers of drunk driving and the irreparable harm it can cause. The community mourns the loss of a young life and hopes that this verdict will bring some measure of justice to Gavin Bivens' family and friends. It also underscores the importance of organizations like Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) and their continued efforts to prevent such tragedies.