Jackson, Miss – The Mississippi Highway Patrol (MHP) wrapped up the 2024 Independence Day Holiday Travel Period on Sunday, July 7th, at midnight, following an enforcement period that began on Thursday, July 4th, at 6:00 a.m.
During this period, MHP issued 6,474 citations, arrested 149 individuals for impaired driving, and cited 876 motorists for occupant restraint violations. The patrol also responded to 141 crashes, resulting in 45 injuries and four fatalities. The fatal crashes occurred in Pearl River, Scott, Sunflower, and Pike Counties.
Detailed Fatal Crash Reports
Pearl River County, 7/4/2024
On Thursday, July 4th, at approximately 11:39 p.m., MHP responded to a fatal crash on Highway 13 in Pearl River County. A 1994 Jeep Wrangler traveling south collided with a 2023 Toyota Camry driven by 23-year-old Jocelin Sanchez of Tylertown, MS, who was pronounced dead at the scene. The incident is under investigation.
Scott County, 7/5/2024
On Friday, July 5th, at around 5:17 p.m., MHP responded to a fatal crash on Interstate 20 in Scott County. A 2002 Dodge Ram traveling east ran off the roadway into the median and struck a tree. The driver, Mr. Epps, sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene. The crash is under investigation.
Sunflower County, 7/5/2024
On Friday, July 5th, at approximately 7:37 p.m., MHP responded to a single-vehicle fatal crash on Highway 3 in Sunflower County. A 2002 Ford CVR driven by 40-year-old Kenneth Willies of Memphis, TN, collided with a ditch and overturned. Willies was pronounced dead at the scene. The crash is under investigation.
Pike County, 7/6/2024
On Saturday, July 6th, at around 5:34 p.m., MHP responded to a fatal crash on Highway 51 in Pike County. A 2018 Jeep Wrangler driven by 40-year-old Dustin Denton of Tylertown, MS, left the roadway, hit a tree, and overturned. Denton was pronounced dead at the scene. The incident is under investigation.
Independence Day Holiday Travel Period Statistics
2024 Independence Day Holiday Enforcement Totals (4 Days):
- Citations: 6,474
- Seatbelt and Child Restraint Violations: 876
- DUIs: 149
- Crashes: 141
- Fatal Crashes: 4
- Fatalities: 4
- Motorist Assists: 76
2023 Independence Day Holiday Totals (2 Days):
- Citations: 4,458
- Seatbelt and Child Restraint Violations: 508
- DUIs: 53
- Crashes: 76
- Fatal Crashes: 4
- Fatalities: 4
- Motorist Assists: 42
The MHP continues to emphasize the importance of road safety and responsible driving, especially during high-traffic holiday periods.