Tragic DeSoto County Crash Claims Lives of Two Teenagers; One Severely Injured

Written with artificial intelligence assistance.

A devastating accident off I-269 near the Laughter exit on Sunday night has resulted in the deaths of two teenagers and left a third critically injured. The Mississippi Highway Patrol identified the deceased as 17-year-old Brandon Munoz and 18-year-old Santiago Giron-Rico. The 17-year-old driver, who remains hospitalized with severe injuries, was also involved in the crash.

Santiago Giron-Rico. (left) Tucker Rudd. (right)Photo byWJTV

According to witnesses, the truck the teens were traveling in veered off the interstate and rolled multiple times. The trio was returning home after celebrating Munoz’s 17th birthday. Friends and family are grappling with the sudden loss and the severe injuries sustained by the driver.

“We were all looking forward to graduating and walking that stage,” said a close friend of the victims. “They were very great, amazing people.” The friend described Munoz as a joyful and energetic person who always made others smile. Giron-Rico, who had recently learned he was going to be a father, was noted for his excitement about becoming a parent.

This tragic incident is the second deadly accident involving teenagers in recent weeks. Earlier this month, Tucker Rudd, a 16-year-old DeSoto Central baseball player, was killed in a crash in an Olive Branch neighborhood. His mother described him as a determined and kind student who was dedicated to everything he did.

Staff Sergeant Marvin Baird of the Mississippi Highway Patrol expressed the added difficulty of handling accidents involving young people. “It takes a little more out of you because we have children, I have teenagers or young adults now,” Baird said. “Anytime a parent loses a child, it’s different.”

Baird emphasized the importance of safe driving practices, urging all drivers to avoid distractions and wear seatbelts. “We need to put the cellphones down. Cell phones are killing us,” he said. “Everyone needs to be safe, and in order to do that, everyone needs to wear their seatbelt.”

The cause of the crash is still under investigation as the community mourns the loss of these young lives and supports the injured driver.