An Oxford man, whose family was featured in HottyToddy.com just weeks ago, died Oct. 8 after crashing into the back of a logging truck at 7:20 a.m. on Highway 6 near the Pontotoc County line.
Carl Lockhart was driving his 2013 Dodge Charger Eastbound when the truck apparently entered the highway via an entry ramp. The Charger was trapped under the truck and bystanders succeeded in pulling Lockhart from his car before the vehicle and logs from the truck caught fire.
One of those bystanders Kristie Inmon said she stopped her car on her way to work as a registered nurse in Batesville when she saw the accident. “After slamming my brakes, stopping and crossing the median, I saw two men pulling him from his car. I saw immediately the man had severe injuries,” she said. “I knew his injuries were life threatening, but all I could do as a nurse with the other people who stopped was try my best to help him.”
According to Corp. Joe Miller of the Mississippi Highway Patrol, paramedics who arrived on the scene were unable to save Lockhart who was pronounced dead at Baptist Memorial Hospital. The truck driver was transported to Baptist Memorial but was not injured in the incident. Miller says Lafayette County emergency vehicles were among several agencies that responded to the scene.
“We’re reconstructing the accident scene but at this time no charges are anticipated,” Miller said.
HottyToddy.com editor in chief Emily Gatlin arrived on the accident scene just as the vehicles caught fire. “There was black smoke and people all over, on both sides of the highway,” she said. “I could see that it was a terrible situation, and after composing myself all I could do was pray.”
Gatlin recalls the HottyToddy.com story about the Lockhart family’s special celebration of son Jake’s 12th birthday at their Highlands development home. Jake’s loving parents constructed a miniature football field for the event. They cashed in a St. John’s Catholic Church drawing prize to have the Rebelettes on hand for the celebration.
“The story ran the day I interviewed for my present job,” Gatlin explained. ‘This morning one of the first responders called saying that she Googled Carl Lockhart’s name and found him in the HottyToddy.com story we ran on Sept. 10.”
Gatlin added that the website will update readers on how they can continue to support the Lockhart family.
—Andy Knef, Managing Editor, HottyToddy.com
—You can email Andy at andy.knef@hottytoddy.com
