Ten people lost their lives on Mississippi highways over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend according to the Mississippi Highway Patrol.
No fatal wrecks were reported in Lafayette County.
The 2019 Thanksgiving holiday enforcement period began Wednesday, Nov. 27, at 12:01 a.m. and ended Sunday, Dec. 1 at midnight. MHP issued 6,824 citations and made 95 DUI arrests.
Troopers investigated 185 crashes with 49 injuries. Nine wrecks resulted in 10 deaths.
Of the 10 fatalities, only one person was wearing a seat belt. Alcohol was suspected of being a factor in three of the nine wrecks.
In Troop E, troopers investigated two fatal wrecks, issued 423 citations and investigated a total of 23 wrecks. Troop E covers several local counties including Lafayette, Panola, Yalobusha and Marshall counties.
Details of the nine fatal wrecks:
- On Thursday at approximately 5:27 p.m., MHP responded to a fatal traffic crash on I-55 in Holmes County. A 2013 Dodge Ram pickup driven by Andre Flowers, 32, of Grenada was traveling northbound on I-55. The vehicle left the roadway and overturned several times ejecting the driver. Flowers was pronounced dead on scene.
- On Friday at approximately 4:06 p.m., MHP responded to a fatal traffic crash on US49 in Rankin County. A 1989 Ford F250 pickup driven by Vernon E. Minton, 61, of Florence was traveling southbound on US49. The vehicle left the roadway and overturned several times. Minton received fatal injuries from the crash and was pronounced dead on scene.
- On Friday at approximately 4:22 p.m., MHP responded to a fatal traffic crash on US49 in Sunflower County. A 2015 Dodge Ram pickup driven by Marx Williamson, 83, of Indianola was traveling southbound on US 49. A 2001 Chevrolet Silverado pickup driven by Robert D. Walters, 20, of Leland, was traveling northbound on US49 and entered into the southbound lane colliding head-on with the Dodge Ram pickup. Williamson was transported to a local hospital with moderate injuries. Walters received fatal injuries from the crash and was pronounced dead on scene.
- On Saturday at approximately 2:20 a.m., MHP responded to a fatal traffic crash on US49 in Humphreys County. A 2014 Nissan Altima driven by Kieary D. Edwards, 30, of Indianola was traveling northbound on US49 in the left lane. A 2005 Chevrolet Tahoe driven by Richard E. Kent, 34, of Indianola was traveling northbound on US49 in the right lane. Both vehicles made contact causing the Nissan Altima to leave the roadway west of US49 coming to rest in the median. The Chevrolet Tahoe left the roadway east of US49 and overturned. Kent received fatal injuries from the crash and was pronounced dead on scene.
- On Saturday at approximately 3:06 p.m., MHP responded to a fatal traffic crash on MS13 in Simpson County. A 2014 Kawasaki KLX motorcycle operated by Ronald Dotson, 53, of Brandon was traveling southbound on MS13. A 2019 Hyundai passenger vehicle driven by Antoine D. Allen, 26, of Hattiesburg, was also traveling southbound on MS13. The Hyundai passenger vehicle collided with the rear of the Kawasaki motorcycle ejecting the operator. Dotson received fatal injuries from the crash and was pronounced dead at a local hospital.
- On Saturday at approximately 5:12 p.m., MHP responded to a fatal traffic crash on MS178 in Marshall County. A 1997 Buick Park Avenue driven by Terry L. Tunstall, 55, of Byhalia was traveling westbound on MS178. The vehicle left the roadway and collided with a tree. Tunstall received fatal injuries from the crash and was pronounced dead on scene.
- On Saturday at approximately 8:27 p.m., MHP responded to a fatal traffic crash on I-55 in Montgomery County involving a pedestrian. A 2011 Dodge 250 pickup driven by Gregory L. Cornelius, 64, of Oklahoma City, OK was traveling northbound on I-55. Dennis M. Beach, 37, of Foxworth, was walking northbound on I-55. The Dodge pickup collided with Beach who received fatal injuries from the crash and was pronounced dead on scene.
- On Sunday at approximately 4:44 a.m., MHP responded to a fatal traffic crash on MS178 in Marshall County. A 2013 Ford Fusion driven by Lashonda R. Anderson, 37, of Byhalia was traveling westbound on MS178. The vehicle left the roadway and collided with a tree. Anderson received fatal injuries from the crash and was pronounced dead on scene.
- On Sunday at approximately 8:40 a.m., MHP responded to a fatal traffic crash on MS15 in Union County. A 2019 Ford Fusion driven by George K. Williamson, 55, of Memphis was traveling northbound on MS15. A 2013 Chrysler 200 driven by Christopher D. Farr, 22, of New Albany was traveling southbound on MS15 and entered into the northbound lane colliding head-on with the Ford Fusion. George K. Williamson and Christopher D. Farr both received fatal injuries from the crash and were pronounced dead on scene.
All crashes are currently under investigation by MHP.
Hottytoddy.com staff report
