Jonesboro, Arkansas — A quiet downtown street turned into the center of a community’s heartbreak on Wednesday afternoon when 73‑year‑old Edwin Michael Dickson of Jonesboro was struck by a vehicle while using a marked crosswalk at the intersection of South Main Street and Washington Avenue. Emergency crews rushed Dickson to St. Bernards Medical Center shortly after 2:30 p.m., but he later died from his injuries, leaving friends and co‑workers in shock.
Dickson was known to many in the Craighead County Circuit Clerk’s office, where he worked and was respected as a steady, familiar presence. Colleagues said he was the kind of person who always greeted everyone with a smile, a small but sincere ritual that brightened the office each morning. The news of his death spread quickly among community members who shared memories of his calm voice and easy laugh.
According to the Arkansas State Police report, a 2016 Jeep Compass driven by 65‑year‑old David Slatton of Jonesboro was turning left from Main Street onto Washington Avenue when it struck Dickson in the crosswalk. Police indicated the driver had the green light at the time but did not see Dickson before the collision. The weather was cloudy and the roads dry, typical for a mid‑afternoon in early March.
Responders found Dickson lying in the roadway when they arrived and immediately began providing aid. Bystanders reported hearing the sirens and watching as paramedics carefully loaded him onto a stretcher before rushing him to the hospital. Friends and neighbors who watched from a distance said the scene felt surreal and unsettling in a part of town usually full of people on foot and traffic moving slowly.
The Jonesboro Police Department’s traffic unit has taken over the investigation, but officials so far have not indicated whether charges will be filed. Investigators continue to piece together details of the moments leading up to the collision, reviewing statements from the driver and any available surveillance footage. In the meantime, the family has asked for privacy as they begin making arrangements.
For many residents, Dickson’s death is a stark reminder that even marked crosswalks do not guarantee safety. Conversations about pedestrian visibility, crosswalk timing, and driver awareness have resurfaced in local groups and at community gatherings, with several people saying they hope the tragedy prompts meaningful change so others aren’t hurt the same way.
His circle of friends remembers him as a gentle man who enjoyed simple pleasures — walks through town, chatting with neighbors, and sharing stories from a long life. As Jonesboro grapples with the sudden loss, tributes and recollections have poured in, each one painting a picture of a man defined by kindness rather than tragedy.
Dickson’s passing is a loss felt not just by family and coworkers but by an entire community that now mourns a familiar face gone too soon.
