MHP reports deadly Labor Day weekend on highways

Sep 3, 2024 – The Mississippi Highway Patrol (MHP) reported Tuesday that the Labor Day weekend turned out to be a deadly one on the state’s highways. 

During the time from Friday, Aug. 30 at 6 a.m. to Monday, Sept. 2 at 12 midnight, a total of seven fatal crashes resulting in 15 fatalities occurred. The seven fatal crashes were part of 155 total accidents that took place.  

Here is the recap from the MIssissippi Highway Patrol about the fatal crashes that took place over the weekend: 

FATAL CRASH, GRENADA COUNTY, 8/30/2024: 

On Friday, Aug. 30 at approximately 09:54 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. Barry Campbell received fatal injuries from the crash and was pronounced dead on the scene.  

FATAL CRASH, WARREN COUNTY, 8/31/2024: 

On Saturday, Aug. 31 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. Thirty-six 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, Georgia to  Dallas, Texas., 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 

This crash remains under investigation by the Mississippi Highway Safety Patrol (MHSP), the Mississippi Commercial Transportation Enforcement Division (CTED), and the National  Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). 

FATAL CRASH, STONE COUNTY, 8/31/2024 

On Saturday, Aug. 31 at approximately 4 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 Jamie Lynn Sullivan later died from her  injuries. 

FATAL CRASH, GRENADA COUNTY, 9/1/2024 

On Sunday, Sept. 1, 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 18-year-old Robert Noah of Jackson, Mississippi, 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. Robert 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, WILKINSON COUNTY, 9/2/2024 

On Monday, Sept. 2, 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. Lamonthan Chapman received fatal injuries from the  crash and was pronounced dead on the scene. The passenger, 29-year-old Nicholas Call of Liberty, Mississippi, 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, PRENTISS COUNTY, 9/2/2024 

On Monday, Sept. 2, at approximately 2 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. Billie J. Moss and his  passenger, 61-year-old Billie J. Moss Jr. of Tishomingo, received fatal injuries from the crash. Billie J. Moss Jr.  was pronounced dead on the scene; Billie J. Moss was flown to North Mississippi Medical Center in Tupelo, where he was pronounced dead. 

FATAL CRASH, ISSAQUENA COUNTY, 9/2/2024 

On Monday, Sept. 2 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, Iillinois and 60-year-old Michael Alexander of Crown Point, Indiana traveled northbound on  US Highway 61. 

– A 2024 Jeep Wrangler driven by 23-year-old Drakeria Dorris of Greenville, and passenger 20-year-old  Michael Robinson, Jr., of Greenville, traveled southbound on US-61. 

The 2024 Honda HR-V collided head-on with the 2024 Jeep Wrangler, which then collided with a 2011 GMC  Acadia. 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. 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. 

The Highway Patrol issued a total of 7,123 citations, made 122 arrests for impaired driving, and cited 740 motorists for occupant restraint violations. 

Labor Day Holiday Travel Period Statistics (Overview) 

2024 Labor Day Holiday Travel Totals 

• Citations – 7,123 
• Seatbelt and Child Restraint – 740 
• DUI’s – 122 
• Crashes – 155 
• Injuries – 81 
• Fatal Crashes – 7 
• Fatalities – 15 
• Motorist Assists – 72 

2023 Labor Day Holiday Travel Totals 

• Citations – 9,186 
• Seatbelt and Child Restraint – 698 
• DUI’s – 141 
• Crashes – 147 
• Injuries – 43 
• Fatal Crashes – 4 
• Fatalities – 4 
• Motorist Assists – 109