JACKSON, MISS– Nearly 8,000 tickets were written over the Fourth of July holiday weekend, according to the Mississippi Highway Patrol.
The Mississippi Highway Patrol concluded its 2016 Fourth of July enforcement period which began Friday, July 1, at 6 p.m. and ended Monday, July 4 at midnight. Throughout the period, MHP issued 7,877 citations with 182 DUI arrests. A total of 131 crashes were investigated including six fatalities and 75 injuries on state, federal highways, and interstate systems. A total of 444 seat belt citations were issued along with 71 child restraint violations.
Six people died in the following crashes:
- On Saturday, July 2, 2016 at approximately 03:23 a.m., the Mississippi Highway Patrol responded to a fatal crash involving a male pedestrian in Pike County. The pedestrian was walking Eastbound on MS44 in the lane of traffic. A vehicle also traveling Eastbound on MS44 struck the pedestrian. The Pike County coroner pronounced the pedestrian dead on scene. Notification details are still pending.
- On Saturday, July 2, 2016 at approximately 11:38 a.m., the Mississippi Highway Patrol responded to fatal crash involving two vehicles in Lauderdale County. A 1996 Chevrolet pickup driven by Willie R. King, 77, of Meridian was traveling Southbound on MS 145 and attempted left turn across traffic. A 1999 Chevrolet pickup traveling Northbound on MS145 collided with passenger side of 1996 Chevrolet pickup. Willie R. King was transported to a local hospital where he died due to injuries sustained in the crash.
- On Sunday, July 3, 2016 at approximately 06:38 a.m., the Mississippi Highway Patrol responded to a fatal single vehicle crash in Lauderdale County. A 1997 Mitsubishi passenger car driven by Colton L. McConnell, 26, of Meridian was traveling Southbound on MS 19. The vehicle left the roadway and overturned. The driver was partially ejected and pronounced dead on scene.
- On Sunday, July 3, 2016 at approximately 6:07 p.m., the Mississippi Highway Patrol responded to a fatal crash involving two vehicles in Neshoba County. A 2010 Chevrolet passenger car driven by Darrel J. Hatmaker, 61, of Philadelphia, MS was traveling Westbound on MS 16. A 2015 Jeep SUV was traveling Eastbound on MS 16. The 2010 Chevrolet passenger car crossed the centerline and collided head on with the 2015 Jeep SUV. Darrel J. Hatmaker was pronounced dead on scene.
- On Monday, July 4, 2016 at approximately 05:01 a.m., the Mississippi Highway Patrol responded to a fatal crash involving one vehicle in Quitman County. A 2013 Chevrolet passenger vehicle driven by Russell W. Cox, 23, of Crowder, MS was traveling Southbound on MS 3. Vehicle left the roadway and overturned. The driver was pronounced dead on scene due to injuries sustained in crash.
- On Monday, July 4, 2016 at approximately 11:39 p.m., the Mississippi Highway Patrol responded to a single vehicle fatal crash in Panola County. A 2016 Buick passenger vehicle driven by Walter L. Leaks, 70, of Crenshaw, MS was traveling Southbound on MS3. Vehicle left the roadway and came to rest in ditch West of MS 3. The driver was pronounced dead on scene.
All crashes remain under investigation by the Mississippi Highway Patrol and you will also find attached a spreadsheet concerning statewide totals by districts. Thank you for helping us by providing traffic safety information to the public.
