With all the merriment and celebration had by many across the state over the Fourth of July weekend, including here in Pearl River County, there was a solemn side to the festivities as well.

Mississippi had its deadliest Fourth of July weekend in two years, with seven lives lost in fatal crashes on state highways.

The Mississippi Highway Patrol reported it worked 120 crashes statewide from 6 p.m., Thursday through midnight Sunday. A total of 58 people were injured. Troop K, the MHP district that patrols the six southernmost counties, worked 25 collisions, the highest number among nine troops.

As much as we appreciate the fact that we are able to celebrate our freedom through many activities, we also mourn the fact that some of our fellow residents in the state paid the ultimate price with the loss of their lives.

Two traffic deaths occurred in South Mississippi over the weekend.

Mylinda Beech, 45, of Gulfport, died in a one-vehicle crash Saturday night on Old Highway 49 in McHenry. MHP also investigated the crash of Eula T. Busby, 74, who died Friday night after she lost control of a 2000 Chevrolet Cavalier. MHP Lt. Johnny Poulos said the car flipped on Interstate 10 near Mississippi 57 in Jackson County.

He said Busby was wearing a seat belt, but most of the others killed in crashes were not. This again is a reason whey all of us should always buckle ourselves in when we are either behind the wheel of a vehicle or just along for the ride.

It had been four years since a life was lost on state highways in Troop K over the Fourth of July weekend.

Troopers statewide made 203 DUI arrests, including 16 in Troop K.

In comparison, four people died around the state over the same holiday period last year. None of those were in southernmost Mississippi.

It was a weekend to remember. But unfortunately, for some families, it was for all of the wrong reasons.