Two Brookhaven women die in Jefferson Davis Co. crash
Published 11:24 am Tuesday, January 3, 2017
State troopers are investigating a New Year’s Day crash in Jefferson Davis County that took the lives of two Brookhaven women.
Luna Harper, 74, of Brookhaven, was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash, which occurred Sunday shortly before 1:30 p.m. in Jefferson Davis County.
Linda Evans, 74, died later at Jefferson Davis Community Hospital.
Harney H. Walker, 27, of New Hebron, also died in the crash.
Harper’s husband, Jerry B. Harper, 75, was taken to the same hospital, then was transferred to Forrest General Hospital in Hattiesburg. His injuries are not life-threatening.
Capt. Johnny Poulos, public affairs director for the Mississippi Highway Patrol, said Jerry Harper, driving a 2011 Nissan Murano, was driving east on Hwy. 84. Walker, in a 2006 Ford Taurus, attempted to cross Hwy. 84 to reach R.G. Rogers Road. The Harpers’ vehicle collided with the right passenger side of Walker’s car.
Evans was a passenger in the Harpers’ car.
No cause of the crash has been determined, Poulos said.
It’s a tragic coincidence for Evans’ family. The woman’s granddaughter, Enterprise kindergartner Karlianna Brumfield, was shot and killed accidentally by her 13-year-old brother with a pellet gun on Jan. 1, 2014.
Funeral services for Evans are Wednesday at Riverwood Family Funeral Serice with burial at Union Baptist Church cemetery.
Visitation will be today from 5 until 9 p.m. at the funeral home.
Harper’s funeral is Friday at 10:30 a.m., also at Riverwood, with burial at Union Baptist Church cemetery.
Visitation will be Thursday from 5 until 9 p.m. at the funeral home.
During the MHP’s New Year’s holiday enforcement period, which began Saturday at 6 p.m. and ended Sunday at 11:59 p.m., troopers issued 1,276 citations with 44 DUI arrests statewide. They investigated 94 motor vehicle crashes, which included 24 injuries and four fatalities on state and federal highways and interstates.
Troopers are also investigating a fatal crash involving one vehicle in Jasper County.
A 2008 Honda Civic driven by Nelson Sorto, 31, of Lilburn, Georgia, was traveling southbound on I-59 about 3:18 p.m. Sunday when the car left the roadway and collided with tree.
A passenger, Bayron A. Gomez, 30, was pronounced dead on scene, Poulos said.
“Due to inclement weather experienced over the weekend, MHP investigated a high number of traffic crashes throughout the short but deadly holiday period,” he said.
In Troop M — which includes Lincoln, Lawrence, Pike, Franklin, Jefferson, Adams, Amite and Wilkinson counties — the highway patrol did not see any fatalities over the weekend, according to a report released Monday.
However, they investigated seven collisions, with one alcohol related. The collisions resulted in six injuries.
Troopers issued three DUI citations and made three drug-related arrests. They also issued four citations for drivers not using seat restraints.