MHP: 15 killed in Labor Day holiday crashes

The 2024 Mississippi Highway Patrol Labor Day holiday travel period concluded with more than 7,100 citations issued, 122 arrests, 155 crashes, and 15 deaths.

The enforcement period began Friday, Aug. 30, 6 a.m., and ended Monday, Sept. 2, at midnight.

Troopers conducted high-visibility patrols and safety checkpoints across the holiday period to ensure safe travel on the state’s roadways. The primary goals were to deter speeding, deter impaired or distracted driving, minimize fatal crashes, and promote seatbelt usage.

Across the four-day period, MHP Troopers statewide issued 7,123 citations; and wrote 740 tickets for seatbelt and child restraint violations. There were 122 Driving Under the Influence arrests, 72 motorist assists, and 155 crashes. The wrecks resulted in 81 injuries, with seven crashes resulting in 15 fatalities.

The fatal crashes occurred in Grenada, Warren, Stone, Wilkinson, Prentiss, and Issaquena counties.

Friday, Grenada County

At approximately 9:54 a.m. Friday, Aug. 30, Troopers responded to a single-vehicle crash on Hwy. 8 in Grenada County.

A Subaru STX — driven by 62-year-old Barry Campbell of Grenada — was traveling east on Hwy. 8 when it left the roadway and collided with an embankment. Campbell received fatal injuries and was pronounced dead on the scene.

Saturday, Warren County

On Saturday, Aug. 31, at approximately 12:40 a.m., Troopers responded to a one-vehicle crash on Interstate 20 near Bovina in Warren County.

A 2018 Volvo Commercial Passenger Bus, registered to Regiomontanos Autobuses, was traveling west when it left the roadway and overturned. According to Regiomontanos, the bus was traveling from Atlanta, Georgia, to Dallas, Texas, with 41 passengers and two drivers.

Six passengers were pronounced dead at the scene, and one died at Merit Health Hospital, Vicksburg. Thirty-six passengers were transported via ambulance to various hospitals in Vicksburg and Jackson with unknown injuries.

The deceased were Elia Guzman, 63; Miguel Arriaga, 61; Victor A. Garcia, 32; Moises A. Garcia, 31; Angelica Palomino, 16; Perla Gutierrez; 16; and Kain Gutierrez, 8; all of Mexico.

The crash remains under investigation by the Mississippi Highway Safety Patrol, Mississippi Commercial Transportation Enforcement Division, and the National Transportation Safety Board.

Saturday, Stone County

At approximately 4 p.m. Saturday afternoon, MHP responded to a single-vehicle crash on Hwy. 49 in Stone County.

A 2007 Toyota 4 Runner, driven by 37-year-old Kristen Arendale of Brandon, was traveling north on Hwy. 49 when it left the roadway and overturned. Both Arendale and her 34-year-old passenger, Jamie Lynn Sullivan — also of Brandon — were transported to a local hospital. Sullivan later died from her injuries.

Sunday, Grenada County

On Sunday, Sept. 1, at approximately 3:15 p.m., MHP Troopers responded to a two-vehicle crash on Hwy. 7 in Grenada County.

A 2003 Subaru Crosstrek — driven by 18-year-old Robert Noah of Jackson — was traveling south on Hwy. 7 when it collided with a 2024 Jeep Wagoneer — driven by Peaches McMurray of Batesville, age 35 — traveling north on the highway. Noah suffered fatal injuries and was pronounced dead on the scene. A passenger in the Jeep — 74-year-old Lizzie Tucker of Richmond, Texas — also received fatal injuries from the crash.

Monday, Labor Day

At approximately 9:15 a.m. Monday, Sept. 2, Troopers responded to a one-vehicle crash on Hwy. 563 in Wilkinson County. A 2014 Freightliner roll-off — driven by 35-year-old Lamonthan Chapman of Gloster — was traveling south on the highway when it left the roadway and overturned. Chapman received fatal injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene. Twenty-nine-year-old passenger Nicholas Call, of Liberty, was injured and airlifted to Our Lady of the Lake in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Neither person was wearing a seatbelt.

At approximately 2 p.m., MHP responded to a two-vehicle crash in Prentiss County on Hwy. 365. A 2021 Ford Expedition, driven by 37-year-old Charles Thomas of Holly Springs, was traveling south on the highway when it collided with an ATV. The 2021 CF MOTO ATV — driven by 82-year-old Billie J. Moss Sr. of Tishomingo — was traveling east from a private drive onto the highway. Both Moss and his passenger — 61-year-old Billie J. Moss Jr., also of Tishomingo — suffered fatal injuries from the crash. Moss Jr. was pronounced dead on the scene; Moss Sr. was airlifted to North Mississippi Medical Center in Tupelo, where he was pronounced dead.

At approximately 3:46 p.m., Troopers responded to a multiple-vehicle crash on Hwy. 61 North, near Valley Park in Issaquena County. The vehicles involved were: a 2024 Honda HR-V traveling north, driven by an 18-year-old from Bella Vista, Arkansas; a 2011 GMC Acadia traveling north, driven by 69-year-old LT Young Jr, of Detroit, Michigan, and transporting passengers Vincent Young of Chicago, age 68, and 60-year-old Michael Alexander of Crown Point, Indiana; and a 2024 Jeep Wrangler traveling south, driven by 23-year-old Drakeria Dorris of Greenville, carrying 20-year-old passenger Michael Robinson Jr., also of Greenville.

The Honda collided head-on with the Jeep, which then collided with the GMC. The driver of the Honda was transported to University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson with unknown injuries; the driver and passengers of the GMC received minor injuries; and the driver of the Jeep was transported to Merit Health in Vicksburg with unknown injuries.

The Jeep passenger, Michael Robinson Jr., suffered fatal injuries and was pronounced dead on the scene.

All fatal crashes remain under investigation by MHP.

2023 Labor Day period

During the 2023 Labor Day holiday travel period, MHP investigated 147 crashes with four fatalities, issued 698 citations for occupant restraint violations, and made 141 DUI arrests on state and federal highway systems. Troop M — based in Brookhaven, and which services Lincoln, Lawrence, Franklin, Amite, Pike, Adams, Jefferson, Wilkinson and Walthall counties — made one DUI arrest, one drug-related arrest, issued 49 seatbelt and child restraint citations, assisted five motorists, and investigated four crashes.

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