MHP reports 15 deaths, 155 crashes over Labor Day weekend

The Labor Day Travel Period has officially ended in Mississippi.

Officials with the Mississippi Highway Patrol report that from Friday at 6 a.m. to Monday at midnight, state troopers issued a total of 7,123 citations, made 122 arrests for impaired driving, and cited 740 motorists for occupant restraint violations.

MHP also investigated 155 crashes, resulting in 81 injuries, with seven fatal crashes and 15 deaths. The fatal crashes occurred in Grenada, Warren, Stone, Wilkinson, Prentiss, and Issaquena Counties.

The number of citations this year was 2,000 fewer than issued last year. However, the number of fatalities quadrupled.

Fatal crashes in Grenada County

On Friday at approximately 9:54 a.m., the Mississippi Highway Patrol responded to a single-vehicle fatal crash on Highway 8 in Grenada County.

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

On Sunday at approximately 3:15 p.m., the Mississippi Highway Patrol responded to a two-vehicle fatal crash on Highway 7 in Grenada County.

A 2023 Subaru Crosstrek driven by Madison-Ridgeland Academy student 18-year-old Robert Noah traveled south on Highway 7 when it collided with a 2024 Jeep Wagoneer driven by 35-year-old Peaches McMurray of Batesville traveling north on Highway 7. Noah received fatal injuries from the crash and was pronounced dead on the scene. Lizzie Tucker, 74, of Richmond, Texas, was a passenger in the Jeep Wagoneer and also received fatal injuries from the crash.

Fatal crash in Warren County

On Saturday at approximately 12:40 a.m., the Mississippi Highway Patrol responded to a one-vehicle crash on Interstate 20 near Bovina in Warren County. A 2018 Volvo Commercial Passenger Bus, registered to Regiomontanos Autobuses traveling westbound, left the roadway and overturned for unknown reasons. Six passengers aboard the bus were pronounced deceased on the scene, and one died at Merit Health Hospital in Vicksburg. 36 Passengers were transported by ambulance to different hospitals in Vicksburg and Jackson with unknown injuries. According to the bus company, the bus was en route from Atlanta to Dallas with a total of 41 passengers and two drivers.

The names, ages, and country of residence are listed below:

Miguel Arriaga, 61, of Mexico Victor A. Garcia, 32, of Mexico Moises A. Garcia, 31 of Mexico Kain Gutierrez, 8 of Mexico Perla Gutierrez, 16, of Mexico Elia Guzman, 63, of Mexico Angelica Palomino, 16 of Mexico.

Fatal crash in Stone County

On Saturday at approximately 4:00 p.m., the Mississippi Highway Patrol responded to a single-vehicle crash on Highway 49 in Stone County.

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

Fatal crash in Wilkinson County

On Monday at approximately 9:15 a.m., the Mississippi Highway Patrol responded to a fatal crash on Highway 563 in Wilkinson County.

A 2014 Freightliner roll-off driven by 35-year-old Lamonthan Chapman of Gloster traveled south on Highway 563 when it left the roadway and overturned. Chapman received fatal injuries from the crash and was pronounced dead on the scene. The passenger, 29-year-old Nicholas Call of Liberty, received injuries and was airlifted to Our Lady of the Lake in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Neither the driver nor the passenger were wearing seatbelts.

Fatal crash in Prentiss County

On Monday at approximately 2:00 p.m., the Mississippi Highway Patrol responded to a two-vehicle fatal crash on Highway 365 in Prentiss County.

A 2021 Ford Expedition driven by 37-year-old Charles Thomas of Holly Springs was traveling south on Highway 365 when it collided with a 2021 CF MOTO ATV driven by 82-year-old Billie J. Moss of Tishomingo traveling east from a private drive onto Highway 365. Moss and his passenger, 61-year-old Billie J. Moss, Jr., received fatal injuries from the crash. Moss, Jr. was pronounced dead on the scene. The father was flown to NMMC in Tupelo, where he was pronounced dead.

Fatal crash in Issaquena County

On Monday at approximately 3:46 p.m., the Mississippi Highway Patrol responded to a multiple-vehicle fatal crash on US-61 North near Valley Park in Issaquena County.

The following vehicles were involved in the crash:

• A 2024 Honda HR-V, driven by an 18-year-old from Bella Vista, Arkansas, traveled northbound on US-61.
• A 2011 GMC Acadia driven by 69-year-old L.T. Young, Jr. of Detroit, Michigan, and Passengers 68-year-old Vincent Young of Chicago, Illinois, and 60-year-old Michael Alexander of Crown Point, Indiana, traveled northbound on US-61.
• A 2024 Jeep Wrangler driven by 23-year-old Drakeria Dorris and Passenger 20-year-old Michael Robinson, Jr., both of Greenville, traveled southbound on US-61.

The Honda HR-V collided head-on with the Jeep Wrangler, which then collided with a GMC Acadia. The driver of the Honda was transported to the University of Mississippi Medical Center with unknown injuries. The driver and passengers of the GMC received minor injuries. The driver of the Jeep Wrangler was transported to Merit Health in Vicksburg with unknown injuries. Michael Robinson, Jr., the passenger of the Jeep Wrangler, received fatal injuries from the crash and was pronounced dead on the scene.

All of the crashes remain under investigation.