Details released on fatal weekend accidents
The Mississippi Highway Patrol Monday released details of a deadly traffic accident near Grenada that took the life of a three-year-old girl whose mother is a speech language pathologist at Lewisburg Elementary School.
Troopers responded to a crash about 5:45 p.m. Saturday at the intersection of state Highway 7 and County 333 in Grenada County. The crash involved a 2011 Toyota Sequoia driven by Abigail Branch, age 37 of Holly Springs and a 2007 Nissan Altima, driven by Ladarrius Campbell, age 21 of Grenada.
According to the news release, Branch’s vehicle was traveling north on state Highway 7 and Campbell was westbound on the county board when the crash took place. The Toyota Sequoia collided with the left side of the Nissan Altima., the release said.
Campbell was pronounced dead on the scene. Branch’s three-year-old daughter Janie was taken to Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital in Memphis, where she later died of her injuries.
Abigail Branch is a speech language pathologist at Lewisburg Elementary School and her husband Bruce is head baseball coach/athletic director/assistant football coach at Marshall Academy.
A GoFundMe account was set up and as of Tuesday afternoon had raised more than $42,000 of a $50,000 goal for the family.
Sadly, it was not the only fatal collision during the Labor Day Weekend that had a DeSoto County connection.
On Sunday morning shortly before 6 a.m. troopers were called to a crash at the intersection of U.S. Highway 61 and Green River Road in Tunica County.
A vehicle driven by Nrsimha Broomfield, age 30 of Memphis was southbound on Highway 61 when it collided with another vehicle driven by Chad Little, age 64 of Southaven, which was eastbound on Green River Road and was proceeding into the intersection with Highway 61.
The Highway Patrol said Little and a passenger, identified as Brent Little, were pronounced dead at the scene.
They were among six fatal victims of crashes on Mississippi highways during the Labor Day holiday weekend that ended at midnight on Monday, Sept. 6. The two other victims of traffic accidents were from a crash in Lincoln County on Monday evening.
Throughout the period, the Mississippi Highway Patrol issued 6,635 citations, including 186 DUI arrests, 330 seat belt citations, and 113 child restraint citations. The patrol also investigated 146 motor vehicle crashes with 54 injuries and the six fatalities.
Troopers assisted with heavy traffic issues throughout the enforcement period as a result of Hurricane Ida recovery efforts.
In the Batesville Troop E, which includes DeSoto County, troopers made eight DUI arrests and one drug arrest. They also issued eight seat belt violation citations and two for child restraints violations.
Troop E handled two collisions but none involved fatalities or injuries.
