The Mississippi Highway Patrol has released the numbers from its annual Christmas enforcement period, which ran this year from Dec. 23 through Dec. 26.
State troopers issued a total of 4,130 citations, made 69 arrests for impaired driving, and cited 477 motorists for seatbelt violations. MHP also investigated or continues to investigate 195 crashes that resulted in 47 injuries and two deaths.
The fatalities happened in separate crashes in Lauderdale and Lincoln counties.
According to MHP Capt. Criss Turnipseed, the crash in Lauderdale County happened the afternoon of Christmas Eve when troopers responded to an area of Interstate 59 at approximately 12:05 p.m. They found that a pedestrian, later identified as 50-year-old Daniel Garris, of Richton, had been walking south on the interstate when struck by a driver. Garris was transported to Baptist Regional Medical Center, where he passed away. The driver was identified as 39-year-old David Holmes, of Culleoka, Tenn. The crash remains under investigation.
The second fatality that MHP continues to investigate happened on Dec. 26 on Highway 583 in Lincoln County. A tanker truck being driven by 68-year-old Martin Dunn, of Bogue Chitto, was going south when it left the roadway, collided with an embankment, and overturned. Dunn was pronounced dead at the scene.
The total number of citations issued by troopers during the 2025 Christmas enforcement period was slightly down from the 2024 number of 4,154. Impaired driving arrests saw an uptick, while fatal crashes went from four to two.
The MHP will once again have extra troopers on the roadways for a New Year enforcement period, although a specific timeframe for when it will go from has yet to be announced.
