MHP Sees Rise in Citations, Dip in Crashes on Fourth of July Holiday

By Alyssa Schnugg
Staff writer
alyssa.schnugg@hottytoddy.com

The Mississippi Highway Patrol reported one fatal wreck on the Fourth of July in Marion County that claimed the lives of two men; however, no fatal wrecks were reported in Oxford or Lafayette County.

MHP issued 4,594 tickets and made 41 DUI arrests on Mississippi highways from 12:01 a.m. Tuesday through midnight on July 4.
A total of 61 crashes were investigated including the fatal wreck in Marion County, where Lacurtis Floyd, 22, of McComb and Damian Swarptue, 26, of Hattiesburg were killed when the vehicle they were passengers in veered of US 98 and collided with trees.
MHP recorded a dramatic increase in citations issued along with a significant decrease in traffic crashes investigated. On July 4, 2017, 2217 citations were issued with 102 traffic crashes being investigated.
“We attribute the increase in citations and the decrease in crashes to the addition of new troopers, along with responsible decisions by motorists,” said MHP spokesman John Poulos.
In Troop E, which covers several counties including Lafayette County, troopers issued 525 citations, made five arrests for DUI and investigated nine wrecks.
Lafayette County Coroner Rocky Kennedy confirmed there were no fatal wrecks on city or county roads.
The Oxford Police Department made three arrests for DUI and investigated four wrecks. The Lafayette County Sheriff’s Department made one arrest for DUI and investigated two wrecks.
In 2017, there were no fatal wrecks in Lafayette County on the Fourth of July; however, three people lost their lives on other highways around Mississippi.