MHP Respond to 2 Fatal Wrecks in North Mississippi

By Alyssa Schnugg
News Editor
alyssa.schnugg@hottytoddy.com

The Mississippi Highway Patrol concluded its Christmas enforcement period, which began Friday at 6 p.m. and ended Tuesday at midnight.

Statewide, MHP issued 6,524 citations with 124 DUI arrests. Troopers responded to 203 motor vehicle crashes, which included 38 injuries and two fatalities on state highways in north Mississippi.

In the Troop E area, which includes Lafayette County, troopers investigated 29 wrecks, which resulted in five people being injured and one fatality.

Troop E Troopers issued 622 citations that included 20 DUIs – the third highest troop in the state.

There were no fatal wrecks reported in Oxford and Lafayette County by local and state law enforcement.

The fatal wreck in the Troop E enforcement area occurred Friday in Tate County at 10:44 a.m. on Highway 4. George E. Harrison, 70, of Coldwater was traveling west when Tim E. Curtis, 30, of Ansonia, Connecticut was traveling east and collided head-on with Curtis, who was pronounced dead at the scene. Harrison was transported to a local hospital due to injuries he sustained in the crash.

The other fatal wreck occurred in Calhoun County, in Troop G, on Sunday afternoon.

Thomas W. Horton, 48, of Vardaman was traveling south when Jerry D. Holder, 71, also of Vardaman, was traveling north when he collided head-on with Horton, who was pronounced dead at the scene. Holder was transported to Baptist Memorial Hospital-North Mississippi for injuries he sustained in the crash.

Both wrecks are still under investigation.

The MHP safety initiative “Making It Home For The Holidays” will continue through the end of the year in order to promote traffic safety.