MHP Responds to Three Fatal Wrecks During Holiday Weekend

The Mississippi Highway Patrol responded to 201 vehicle crashes over the holiday weekend that resulted in the deaths of four people on state and federal highways and interstates.

No fatal wrecks were reported in Lafayette County.

MHP’s 2020 Christmas holiday travel period began at 12:01 a.m. on Dec. 23 and ended at midnight on Sunday, Dec. 27.

MHP issued 5,898 citations with 130 DUI arrests. The MHP safety initiative “Home for the Holidays” will continue through the end of the year in order to promote traffic safety.

In Troop E, which includes Lafayette County, troopers issued 480 citations, made 22 arrests for DUI and investigated 26 wrecks that resulted in 13 people being injured, but no fatalities.

Of the four fatalities reported in other areas around the state, none were wearing seat belts. Of the three wrecks that resulted in a fatality, alcohol was suspected to be the cause of one of the wrecks.

Two of the three wrecks occurred on Christmas Day.

At about 2:09 a.m. on Dec. 25, MHP responded to U.S. 80 in Newton County after a vehicle left the roadway and collided with a tree. Jeffrey A. Hunter, 50, of Forest, was pronounced dead on the scene.

At about 3:46 a.m. on Dec. 25, MHP responded to a crash on MS 603 in Hancock County for a head-on collision. The drivers of the two vehicles were killed. Colton L. Northrup, 20, of Pass Christian and Jessica M. Hoyt, 28, of Pulaski, Virginia, were both pronounced dead at the scene.

At 11:07 p.m. on Sunday, MHP responded to U.S. 45 in Clarke County where a vehicle went off the roadway and overturned. A passenger, Cody D. Wright, 21, was pronounced dead at the scene.

All crashes are currently under investigation by the MHP.