Man killed in weekend auto mishap

Published 5:00 am Monday, April 11, 2005

A former Brookhaven resident was killed Saturday morning when heapparently lost control of his vehicle and slammed into a church inSummit, officials said.

Michael “Chad” May, 32, of 5014 Gibson Road, McComb, waspronounced dead at Southwest Mississippi Regional Medical Center at8:50 a.m., said Pike County Coroner Percy Pittman, although it isbelieved May died at the scene of the crash at Lone Star MissionaryBaptist Church in Summit.

An autopsy and blood-alcohol content test were conductedSaturday with results expected later today, he said.

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May had been checked into the hospital earlier Saturday morningafter passing out in a booth at the Huddle House, Pittman said.Restaurant management notified police, who had an ambulance takeMay to SMRMC.

“While he was there earlier that night, he was very rude andbelligerent,” Pittman said.

May checked himself out of SMRMC against medical advice and afriend drove him home, the coroner said. He allegedly fought thefriend several times on the way home and continued his unrulyconduct at the home before storming out and driving off in aChevrolet pickup truck, Pittman said.

May apparently lost control of the truck while driving west onLawrence Street around 6:45 a.m., Pittman said. The vehicle jumpeda curb and traveled about 54 yards before slamming into Lone StarMissionary Baptist Church. May was ejected from the vehicle duringthe crash.

“There is some pretty good damage to the west side of thechurch,” the coroner said.

May is the grandson of Mr. and Mrs. Bill May of Brookhaven. Hewas married with two daughters. He was an oilfield worker.

Harrigill Funeral Home of Brookhaven is in charge ofarrangements.