Six people die in Memorial Day crashes
May 27, 2025 – The Mississippi Highway Patrol (MHP) concluded the 2025 Memorial Day Holiday Travel Period on Monday, May 26 at 12 midnight. The enforcement period began on Friday, May 23 at 6 p.m. MHP issued a total of 5,857 citations, made 73 arrests for impaired driving, and cited 592 motorists for occupant restraint violations. MHP also investigated 137 crashes resulting in 39 injuries, with five fatal crashes and six deaths. The fatal crashes occurred in Hancock, Lowndes, George, Holmes and Chickasaw counties.
Here is a listing of the fatal accidents that took place during the Memorial Day weekend:
On Saturday, May 24, at approximately 3:40 a.m., MHP responded to a fatal crash on Highway 604 in Hancock County.
A 2008 Toyota Tacoma driven by 52-year-old Howard Dawsey of Pearlington, traveled east on Highway 604 when it ran off the road and collided with a tree. Dawsey was taken to a local hospital where he later died due to injuries sustained in the crash.
On Saturday, May 24, at approximately 10:34 a.m., MHP responded to a crash on Highway 12 in Lowndes County.
A 2020 GMC Sierra driven by 29-year-old Sean A. Hathaway of Steens, was traveling east on Highway 12 when it collided with a 2012 Chevrolet Tahoe driven by 45-year-old Jason P. Harrison of Columbus, traveling west on Highway 12.
Harrison sustained fatal injuries from the crash and was pronounced dead at the scene. No other fatalities and injuries were reported.
On Saturday, May 24, at approximately 8:30 p.m., MHP responded to a fatal crash on Highway 613 in George County.
A 2015 Chevrolet Express driven by 57-year-old Tyler S. Merwin, with an adult passenger, 52-year-old Lisa Merwin, and four juvenile passengers, all of Lucedale, traveled south on Highway 613 when it collided with a 2014 Ford F150 driven by 20-year-old Vaydin Buckley, and passenger, 20-year-old Brendan Brown, both of Moss Point, traveling north on Highway 613.
Merwin received fatal injuries from the crash and was pronounced dead at the scene. Lisa Merwin and one of the juveniles were transported to a local hospital with injuries.
On Saturday, May 24, at approximately 10:03 p.m., MHP responded to a single-vehicle fatal crash on Highway 14 in Holmes County.
A 2004 GMC Sierra driven by 37-year-old Calvin Cox of Lexington, was traveling west on Highway 14 when it collided with a fallen tree partially in the roadway. Cox and his 11-year-old son, D’Kbryn Cox, received fatal injuries from the crash and were pronounced dead at the scene. 13-year-old D’Kbryn Cox was a passenger in the vehicle and was transported to the hospital for treatment of his injuries sustained from the crash.
On Sunday, May 25, at approximately 1:29 a.m., MHP responded to a crash on Highway 245 in Chickasaw County.
A 2016 GMC Sierra, driven by 37-year-old Rashad W. Goree from Tupelo, was traveling north on Highway 245 when it collided with a 2016 Audi Q3, driven by 19-year-old Brandon O. Ford, also from Tupelo, who was traveling south on the same highway.
Goree and Fabian Devon Burden, a 35-year-old passenger in the GMC from New Albany, were transported to Tupelo Hospital with reported moderate injuries. Brandon O. Ford was also taken to Tupelo Hospital with moderate injuries. Reyne Rakera Babbitt, a 25-year-old passenger in the Audi from Tupelo, was transported to Tupelo Hospital, where she later succumbed to her injuries.
Memorial Day Holiday Travel Period Statistics (Overview)
2025 Memorial Day Holiday Travel Totals
- Citations – 5,857
- Seatbelt and Child Restraint – 592
- DUI’s – 73
- Crashes – 137
- Fatal Crashes – 5
- Fatalities – 6
- Motorist Assist – 94
2024 Memorial Day Holiday Travel Totals
- Citations – 7.026
- Seatbelt and Child Restraint – 864
- DUI’s – 118
- Crashes – 135
- Fatal Crashes – 4
- Fatalities – 4
- Motorist Assist – 90
