Three motorists were killed in three separate crashes in Mississippi over the Labor Day holiday weekend, according to the Mississippi Highway Patrol.

MHP’s 2022 Labor Day Holiday Travel Enforcement Period began Friday at 6 a.m. and concluded Monday at midnight.

Troopers issued a total of 10,026 citations, made 270 arrests for impaired driving and cited 1,089 motorists for occupant restraint violations. MHP also investigated 143 crashes, which resulted in 46 injuries and three deaths. The fatal crashes occurred in George, Washington and Lauderdale counties.

Troop M — which serves Lincoln, Lawrence, Franklin, Jefferson, Adams, Walthall, Pike, Amite and Wilkinson counties — reported seven crashes and four injuries, none in Lincoln County. Troop M also made four felony arrests, 32 drug-related arrests, and 39 arrests for DUI; issued 242 seat belt or children restraint violations; and assisted 19 motorists.

The MHP Motor Carrier Division also conducted inspections on commercial motor vehicles.

Three fatal crashes

On Saturday, Sept. 3, at approximately 5 p.m., MHP responded to a fatal crash on Hwy. 613 in George County.

A 2007 Chevrolet HHR driven by Lucedale resident James Holifield, 69, was traveling south on Hwy. 613 when it collided with a 2012 Chevrolet Traverse, driven by 43-year-old Johnathan Dungan, also of Lucedale, who was traveling north.

Holifield received fatal injuries from the crash and was pronounced dead.

At approximately 2:36 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 4, Troopers responded to a fatal crash in Washington County on Hwy. 82.

A 2012 Lexus ES, driven by 44-year-old Marcus Flowers of Leland, was traveling west on Hwy. 82 when it collided with a 2020 Dodge Charger, driven by 36-year-old Joseph Hudson, of Greenville, who was traveling east. Flowers received fatal injuries from the crash.

The third fatal wreck happened Monday afternoon, Sept. 5. At approximately 2:52 p.m., MHP responded to the wreck on Hwy. 80 in Lauderdale County.

A 2018 Ford Fusion driven by Cassie Warbington, 33, of Meridian, was traveling west on Hwy. 80 when it collided with a Massey Ferguson tractor driven by 74-year-old David Gaddis, also of Meridian, also traveling west.

Gaddis received fatal injuries and was pronounced dead on the scene.

All three crashes remain under investigation by MHP.