ASP: Vehicular deaths in Northwest Arkansas lead to egligent homicide, charges against Pea Ridge resident

A husband and wife from Rogers were killed March 26, 2026, when the eastbound 1989 Harley-Davidson motorcycle they were riding was struck by a westbound 2001 Chevrolet Tahoe that turned left into its path at the intersection of U.S. Highway 62 and West Rose Street in Benton County.

Michael J. Cordes, 70, the motorcycle driver, and his passenger Freda I. Cordes, 67, both of Rogers, died at the scene. No one else was injured. The weather was clear and the roadway was dry.

According to the Arkansas State Police fatal crash summary (Accident #83), the Tahoe (Vehicle 1, traveling westbound) attempted a left turn and crossed into the path of the eastbound motorcycle (Vehicle 2). The motorcycle struck the Tahoe. Both Cordeses were pronounced dead; their bodies were held at the Benton County Coroner’s Office. The Tahoe driver was not listed as injured.

The crash occurred at 11:54 a.m. Trooper Brandon A. Walker #465 of the Arkansas State Police investigated. Next of kin were notified.

Pea Ridge residentJose Luis Gamez, 45, of Pea Ridge, was arrested in connection with the crash. He faces two counts of negligent homicide, one count of first-offense driving while intoxicated (DWI), and one count of improper entry or exit at an intersection. He is also under a hold for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

Gamez was booked following the crash, which some early scanner reports and initial news dispatches referred to as occurring at U.S. 62 and Russell Road in nearby Avoca. Official ASP records and multiple follow-up reports confirm the intersection as U.S. 62 at West Rose Street in Rogers.

Bond was set at $500,000 on at least one of the negligent homicide counts (with cash/surety options on the others). A spokesperson for the Arkansas State Police confirmed the charges to local media.

This double fatality was among several recent motorcycle-related deaths reported in Arkansas that week. No additional details about the investigation, toxicology results, or court proceedings have been released as of March 30, 2026.The incident highlights a common danger at intersections: left-turning vehicles failing to yield to oncoming traffic, especially motorcycles, which are less visible and offer riders little protection

Michael and Freda Cordes were longtime Rogers residents. Public records and news reports have not yet included obituaries or additional family statements, consistent with the very recent timing of the crash.

The Arkansas State Police fatal crash summaries are preliminary and subject to update as investigations continue.