Woman charged in connection with wrong-way I-269 crash

Photo: Tracy Balton (DeSoto County Jail photo)

March 5, 2025 UPDATE-An Olive Branch woman was charged in connection with Tuesday night’s crash where a DeSoto County deputy forced the collision to stop a wrong-way high-speed driver on I-269.

A Mississippi Highway Patrol release Wednesday identified the driver as Tracy Balton, age 54 of Olive Branch, who was charged with driving her 2024 Subaru Outback southbound in the northbound lanes of I-269 about 8 p.m. and later colliding with a DeSoto County Sheriff’s Department squad car.

The DeSoto County Sheriff’s Department said Balton collided with a 2023 Dodge Durango driven by Dep. Brian Brock, age 35 of Southaven. Brock is being hailed for courage and heroism for his actions.

Sheriff Thomas Tuggle, in a statement, said his office had received several reports Tuesday night of a vehicle traveling westbound in the eastbound lanes of I-269 near the Getwell Road exit. The vehicle had missed several other vehicles during his wrong-way travels.  

Tuggle credited Brock for his decision to position himself on the interstate shoulder just east of Craft Road, observing the wrong-way driver approaching at an extremely high rate of speed, and taking action.

“Recognizing the imminent danger, he made the difficult decision to pull into the path of the oncoming vehicle to prevent a collision with other cars,” Tuggle said. “Sadly, our deputy took the brunt of the impact head-on.”

Brock was transported to Regional One in stable condition, and Wednesday morning it was reported the deputy had been released from the hospital and is recovering at home.

Balton was not injured and was taken into custody. She faces charges of felony fleeing from a law enforcement officer, aggravated assault on an officer, and driving under the influence.