The Mississippi Highway Patrol investigated 160 vehicle accidents, resulting in 36 injuries and seven deaths during its annual Christmas Holiday Travel Enforcement Period.
Troopers statewide issued 5,294 citations and made 80 arrests for impaired driving during the annual enforcement period, which included beefed up patrols on state roads, interstates and highways systems from Friday, Dec. 23 at 6 a.m. until midnight on Monday, Dec. 26.
The deadly crashes, which remain under investigation by MHP, occurred in Jones, Sunflower, Jefferson, Attala, Clark, Marion and Pearl River Counties
Of the 5,924 citations issued statewide, 472 were for not wearing a seatbelt and children not properly restrained and 80 for DUI. Troopers also assisted 218 motorists.
Batesville-based Troop E, which covers 10 counties in northwest Mississippi, was responsible for a state-high 14 of the total 80 DUI arrests, including one in Tate County. Troop E also made six drug arrests and worked 29 traffic accidents resulting in six injuries and no deaths. There were 47 tickets issued in north Mississippi to motorists not wearing a seat belt and four for no child restraint in vehicle.
The Mississippi Highway Patrol investigated 174 vehicle accidents, resulting in 30 injuries and one death during its 2021 Christmas Holiday Travel Enforcement Period.
