The quiet of the weekend in the Happy Valley area of north‑Russellville was shattered when 82‑year‑old George Sanborn, a lifelong resident of Russellville, was struck by a vehicle that fled the scene.
According to officials with the Arkansas State Police (ASP), troopers responded around 6:45 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 15, to a call of a pedestrian hit along State Highway 326 in the Happy Valley community, just north of Russellville near the Gum Log area. Sanborn was found injured at the site and was rushed via airlift to UAMS in Little Rock. He succumbed to his injuries early Sunday morning, Nov. 16.
Investigators say the vehicle involved was likely traveling westbound on Highway 326 and may have sustained damage to its driver’s side — a fact that may prove critical in tracking down the driver. Officers believe the car did not stop, and the hit‑and‑run remains under active investigation.
Family, friends and neighbors of George describe him as a gentle soul, the kind of neighbor who always stopped to chat and helped out when he could. His passing has rattled this small community in Pope County, and the unanswered questions surrounding his death have only deepened the pain. While law enforcement focuses on leads and vehicle descriptions, the community is left grieving — and wanting justice.
ASP is urging anyone who may have seen a vehicle traveling westbound on Highway 326 in the early hours of Nov. 15, or who noticed a car with damage to the driver’s side, to contact them immediately. They’ve set up a tip line under Troop J at 479‑754‑3096.
As the investigation continues, the hope is that the driver or someone with information will come forward, so that George’s family can begin to find closure. This senseless loss not only takes a life but leaves a hole in a community.
In the days ahead, highway footage, witness statements and vehicle damage reports are expected to be reviewed. But for now, a family mourns, a community watches, and police wait for the break that will bring this case closer to resolution.
