Two people who were killed in a head-on collision late Friday, Aug. 30, in Hattiesburg’s Mississippi Highway Patrol Troop J district were the only traffic fatalities reported in the state during the Labor Day Holiday weekend from Friday, Aug. 30-Monday, Sept. 2.
Troop J spokesman Travis Luck said 16-year-old Brenna Clark of Laurel and 26-year-old Thomas Hinton of Richton were killed in a head-on crash on State Route 15 in Perry County just south of the Jones County line.
Last year, six fatalities were recorded during the Labor Day weekend statewide, with two of those in the Troop J district.
MHP released the 2019 Labor Day statistics Tuesday, listing 13 collisions for Troop J including one that was alcohol-related, and the fatal crash in Perry County that also included two injuries. There was also one felony arrest was recorded in addition to two drug arrests and 15 DUIs.
Hazard calls amounted to 347 with 167 non-hazard calls for a total of 526 calls with the 12 arrests. There were 26 seat belt citations, eight child restraint infractions, and four motorist assists for a total of 560 calls.
In 2018, Troop J recorded 47 DUIs, 636 speeding tickets, eight child restraint infractions, 32 seat belt citations, 17 seat belt warnings, and 36 criminal arrests.
Statewide in 2019, MHP officers handled 5,771 calls with 166 DUIs and 103 collisions. Last year, there were 9,440 citations, 166 driving under the influence arrests, 165 motor vehicle crashes (54 injuries).