The Independence Day holiday weekend was a relatively safe one on Mississippi highways, according to the travel enforcement period report released Wednesday by the Mississippi Highway Patrol (MHP).
One person died on state highways during the weekend, that being a Woodville teenager who died in a crash in Wilkinson County.
MHP reported the death of 16-year old Daquan Veal of Woodville, who died early Saturday morning, July 2, when Veal lost control of the vehicle he was driving and it collided with an embankment. MHP reported Veal was declared dead at the scene.
The one traffic fatality over the weekend, which ended at 12 midnight Tuesday, July 5, was compared to two fatalities in Mississippi over the same period of 2021, MHP said.
In the northwest Mississippi area covered by Batesville Troop E, there were 24 collisions covered with 21 injuries but no fatalities. Four of the collisions were labeled as alcohol-related. The 21 injuries were the most of any troop area in the state. There were 23 DUI citations issued, five drug arrests and one felony arrest in the Batesville Troop E area. Troopers also issued 57 seat belt violations and 14 child restraint violations.
Statewide, a total of 7,999 citations were issued and made 168 arrests for impaired drive. Troopers investigated 224 crashes with 57 injuries and one fatality.
The number of citations was an increase from the 6,140 issued in 2021, which included 146 DUI arrests, 151 crashes and two fatalities in separate crashes.
In addition to increased traffic enforcement by troopers over the weekend, the Mississippi Highway Patrol Motor Carrier Division conducted inspections on commercial motor vehicles over the holiday period.
