Statewide, five die in Christmas holiday collisions
BILOXI -- Five people, including two pedestrians, died in four collisions on state highways and interstates over the Christmas weekend, while three other people died in local crashes in D'Iberville and Saucier.
The Mississippi Highway Patrol investigated a total of 250 crashes statewide that injured 81 people during its holiday traffic-safety enforcement campaign, MHP Capt. Johnny Poulos said. Ten crashes, he said, were alcohol-related.
The beefed-up enforcement period started at 6 p.m. Wednesday and ended at midnight Sunday.
Severe weather "played a significant role" in the high number of crashes, Poulos said.
State troopers issued 4,409 citations statewide, including 85 DUI arrests.
In the six southernmost counties, those patrolled by Troop K based in Biloxi, state troopers issued 304 citations, including 13 DUI arrests. They investigated 22 collisions that injured six people.
MHP's report shows the only area of the state with no seat belt or child-restraint violations was the six southernmost counties.
All five killed on state or federal highways died at the scene, including the pedestrians, said Poulos, who provided the following details.
Statewide fatalities
Chaniqua Pierce, 19, of Booneville, died Wednesday night in a one-car crash on Mississippi 6 in Lee County when her car left the road and collided with a tree about 11:10 p.m.
Osmar Yovani Garcia Vasquez, 27, of Collins, died about 5:32 p.m. Friday while walking on U.S. 49 in Covington County. He reportedly was walking in the northbound lane on Christmas night and was struck by a northbound vehicle.
Linda Arant, 62, and passenger Joyce Hull, 91, both of Indianola, died about 6:43 p.m. Saturday in a two-vehicle crash in Leflore County. The Cadillac Seville they were travelling in on U.S. 82 was struck by a 2003 Mercury Grand Marquis driven by Jerry Ross, 53, of Picayune. Poulos said Ross was trying to cross the highway to reach County Road 515. Ross was taken to a hospital for treatment of moderate injuries.
Anthony Tippen, 40, of Walnut, was walking on U.S. 72 in Alcorn County on Saturday when he was struck by a westbound vehicle about 6:54 p.m.
The MHP report shows only two motorists involved in fatal crashes were wearing a seat belt. The collisions remain under investigation.
Other fatalities
In other fatal crashes, Air Force Airman L.J. Montgomery, 21, from Gulfport, died Friday night in a crash in Saucier that injured his two teenage passengers. Montgomery was stationed in Japan and had come home to spend Christmas with his family. The Mustang he was driving struck a tree on Airey Tower Road just south of Joe Bill Road, Harrison County Coroner Gary Hargrove said.
Also, a driver and passenger died about 1:30 a.m. Sunday in D'Iberville when their car struck a tree and caught fire on Lamey Bridge Road just south of D'Iberville High School. Hargrove said their bodies were burned so he is waiting on tests to confirm their identities.
This story was originally published December 28, 2015 at 1:43 PM with the headline "Statewide, five die in Christmas holiday collisions ."