MARIANNA, Arkansas — A Lee County plane crash has claimed the lives of a prominent Batesville business owner and his wife.
The crash occurred southeast of Marianna at about 9 p.m. on Sunday. Family members contacted the Helena-West Helena Police Department for assistance after they had not heard from the victims.
The crash killed Joseph Steve Bryant and his wife, Sharon. First responders found the wreckage of the plane at about 9:30 p.m. in a field about 12 miles southeast of Marianna.
Bryant owned Bryant’s Pharmacy and Health Care in Batesville for nearly 40 years. He and his wife spearheaded the Sara Low Memorial Park development in Batesville and were contributors to Arkansas State University, of which both graduated.
The Arkansas State Police has handed the investigation over to the National Transportation Safety Board.
