Troopers with the Mississippi Highway Patrol worked one fatality and several DUI’s over the Christmas weekend statewide. All available troopers were on duty conducting patrols and safety checkpoints during the enforcement period, according to a departmental press release.

The department’s official enforcement period began at 6 p.m. on Dec. 22 and lasted until midnight on the 25th, During that time, troopers issued 4,226 citations statewide, according to a departmental release.

Troop K, includes Harrison, Jackson, George, Hancock, Stone and Pearl River Counties. 

In a statement by Public Affairs Officer of Troop K Chase Elkins, one fatality was reported in Harrison County on Dec. 22, which claimed the life of one woman from Saucier. It occurred 15 minutes before the official enforcement period began.

At the time of the accident, the currently unidentified 52-year-old female was driving a southbound Kia Soul on Highway 67, that crossed the northbound lanes into the path of a Ford F-150, which crashed into the passenger side of the KIA. The driver of the KIA died as a result of injuries sustained during the accident, the release states. The victim was not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the accident.

The driver and passenger of the Ford F-150 were transported to Garden Park Medical Center for treatment of minor injuries. Both occupants of the F-150 were wearing seatbelts at the time of the accident.

Elkins said the crash is still under investigation.

No vehicular accidents were reported in Pearl River County during the holiday period.

Overall, 157 accidents occurred during that period in Mississippi, six were reported to be alcohol related. Statewide, 61 DUI’s were worked by troopers, the release states.

Eleven drug arrests and nine felony arrests statewide were also worked by the Highway Patrol.