Pedestrian killed in highway crossing accident

Published 6:00 am Thursday, March 1, 2007

A pedestrian was killed while attempting to cross Highway 84Sunday afternoon, officials said.

Raymond Earl Williams, 36, of Egypt Circle, was struck by aBuick sport utility vehicle driven by Steven M. Blanc, 61, ofMadisonville, La., while walking north on Highway 583.

Blanc, who was traveling west on Highway 84, struck Williamswhen the pedestrian was attempting to cross the highway, said Sgt.Rusty Boyd, public relations officer for Troop M of the MississippiHighway Safety Patrol. The accident apparently came as the man andvehicle swerved in an effort to avoid each other, Boyd said.

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“The driver said he saw him on the road and moved to miss him,but when he did the man (changed direction and) started running,”Boyd said.

No charges are expected to be filed in the accident, Boydsaid.

Williams was pronounced dead at the scene by Emergency MedicalServices personnel, said Lincoln County Coroner Clay McMorris.Williams Mortuary is in charge of arrangements, he said.

Angie Rogers, of County Farm Road, said she and her 12-year-oldson were walking their dog when they witnessed the accident.

“I don’t think they saw each other,” she said. “It was horrible,just horrible.”

Rogers said she sent her son with the dog to the top of the hillso he wouldn’t see any more and rushed to aid Williams.

“I kept rubbing his back and praying for him …,” Rogers said.”I had never seen anything like that in my life. It was awful.”

Two other witnesses to the accident, who were traveling on thehighways, also rushed to help Williams, she said. Rogers said shedid not know Williams, but had seen him walking near theintersection many times.

“I walk the dog here every Sunday about this time. I had seenhim here pretty often,” she said. “We threw up our hands at eachother, but we’ve never spoke.”

Her son is still tormented by what he saw, Rogers said.

“He was real upset about it,” she said. “He didn’t sleep muchlast night.”

The family has sought church counseling to help them cope,Rogers said.