Two people were killed in wrecks on state and federal highways in Mississippi over the New Year’s weekend.

Mississippi Highway Patrol’s 2023 New Year Holiday Travel Enforcement Period began Friday, Dec. 30 at 6 a.m. and concluded Monday, Jan. 2, at midnight.

During this period, Troop M, based in Brookhaven, investigated 15 collisions resulting in two injuries, none of which were alcohol-related. Troop M officers made 19 DUI arrests, 2 drug-related arrests, nine felony arrests, and issued 107 citations for seat belt or child restraint violations.

Statewide, troopers investigated 203 collisions, seven of which were alcohol-related. Two crashes were fatal and 54 individuals were injured. Troopers made 164 DUI arrests, 53 drug-related arrests, and 17 felony arrests, and issued 858 seat belt or child restraint citations. A total of 8,037 citations were issued for various violations.

During the 2022 Christmas Travel Enforcement Period, Dec. 23-26, MHP investigated 160 crashes, with 36 injuries, as well as seven deaths. The deadly crashes occurred in Jones, Sunflower, Jefferson, Attala, Clark, Marion and Pearl River counties.

Troop M investigated 16 collisions, two of which were alcohol-related, and one fatal crash, in Jefferson County. Troop M officers made 12 DUI arrests, eight drug-related arrests, and issued 148 citations for seat belt or child restraint violations.

 

Fatal crashes New Year’s weekend

On Sunday, Jan. 1, at approximately 10 a.m., MHP responded to a fatal crash on Hwy. 482 in Neshoba County.

A 2005 Chevrolet Tahoe — driven by 21-year-old Breanne Mingo of Philadelphia — was traveling west on Hwy. 482 when it ran off the roadway and overturned multiple times. An unrestrained passenger, Nakeya Amos, received fatal injuries and was pronounced dead on the scene.

On Monday, Jan. 2, at approximately 12:20 p.m., troopers responded to a fatal crash on I-55 in Yalobusha County.

A 2001 Jeep Laredo — driven by 75-year-old Dennis L. Mudbone of Memphis — and a 2017 Dodge Charger — driven by 42-year-old Glen E. Bess of Waynesville, Missouri — were both traveling north on I-55.

A 2021 Chevrolet Tahoe — driven by 19-year-old James I. Inman of Poplar Bluff, Missouri — and a 2013 Nissan Rogue were both traveling south on I-55.

The Charger collided with the read of the Laredo, causing the Laredo to cross the median and collide with the Tahoe and Rogue.

Dennis Mudbone received fatal injuries from the crash.

A passenger in the Rogue — Eli K. McIntyre, 19, of Boswell, Oklahoma — suffered moderate injuries from the crash and was transported to a local hospital.

Other passengers were not injured. These were two Dodge passengers, ages 17 and 12, both of Waynesville, Missouri; and Chevrolet passengers Tina Inman, 43, and a 16-year-old, both of Poplar Bluff, Missouri.

The crashes remain under investigation by MHP.

 

2022-2023 New Year Holiday Enforcement totals

Citations – 8,037 (14,792 in 2021-2022)

Seatbelt and Child Restraint – 858 (1,421 in 2021-2022)

DUIs – 164 (2779 in 2021-2022)

Crashes – 203 (178 in 2021-2022)

Fatal Crashes – 2 (2 in 2021-2022)

Fatalities – 2 (2 in 2021-2022)

Motorist Assist – 87 (196 in 2021-2022)