Pea Ridge student killed in car crash

A man has been arrested in connection with a car crash that left a 14-year-old Pea Ridge student dead. According to the Pea Ridge School District, Gavin Bivens was a ninth-grader at Pea Ridge Junior High. According to an accident report from the Arkansas Department of Public Safety, Bivens died Saturday morning in Garfield. Bivens was riding his dirt bike on Main Street when he was struck head-on by a car. According to an affidavit, Gregory Payne was driving the car that struck Bivens. Payne was arrested in connection with the death. Payne faces several charges, including drunken driving, vehicular manslaughter and failure to stop after an accident. He is being held on $300,000 bail. The Pea Ridge School District released a statement: “It is with deep sadness that we confirm the tragic death of one of our students, Gavin Bivens. Our thoughts are with Gavin’s family and friends during this incredibly difficult time. Our greatest concern at this time is the well-being of our students and staff. We have established a crisis response team to offer counseling and support to those affected by this tragedy. Pea Ridge Schools offers counseling to any students who need it.