Three people, including two Jones County Junior College students, were killed around noon Friday in a two-vehicle fiery accident at the intersection of Sandhill Church Road and Highway 588, west of Ellisville.
According to Mississippi Highway Patrol spokesman Perry Snyder, the accident occurred approximately four miles west of Ellisville at 11:52 a.m. when two Ford trucks slammed head-on.
Jasmine Russell, 24, of Columbia, the driver of a 2002 F-150 Ford Truck, was killed along with a front seat passenger, 19-year-old Adrianna K. Batimon of Carson. Also killed was Dustin L. White, 19, of Sumrall, the driver of a 2007 F-150 Ford Truck. Taylor J. Newsome, 18, of Prentiss, also a student at JCJC, was transported to South Central Regional Medical Center with critical but non-life threatening injuries.
Two people who came upon the scene are being credited with saving Newsome’s life. Scott Posey, 38, and Joshua Hawk, 23, both from Laurel, fought back flames to get Newsome, a backseat passenger, out of the 2002 truck.
“She was screaming bloody murder to get her out,” said Hilda Morris, who was one of the first person’s on the scene following the accident. “I tried to get her out, but the door was jammed. Those two guys were trying to get the other driver out, but his leg was stuck. They did everything they could to get him out. When they couldn’t, they did everything they could to get the girl out.”
Morris said both vehicles were soon engulfed in flames.
“It was the most horrific thing I’ve ever seen in my life,” said Morris. “I wouldn’t want anybody to see what the rest of us saw.”
One victim had to be extricated from the charred remains of a vehicle by volunteer fire personnel from South Jones and Boggy Volunteer Fire Departments using the jaws-of-life.
Mississippi Highway Patrol, assisted by Jones County Sheriff’s Deputies, had to block off both ends of Highway 588 near the intersection as emergency personnel cleared the scene.
“People fly down this road,” said a resident who joined family members in their yard that was being used as a turn-around by the MHP to redirect traffic. “When I try to get out of my drive-way, I have to floor it.”
Many of those who were being redirected asked from their car windows if anyone knew who were the victims. Most were from this rural area of Jones County and feared it may be someone they knew, while other drivers inquired about directions since the roadway was impassable.
“I just pray it’s no one I know,” said one resident.
Snyder said the accident remains under investigation by the MHP.
Local News
Related Photos
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Photos/Rob Sigler
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