(Update, identification of the juveniles who passed away in Saturday’s collision have been released and additional information has been provided by MHP.)

Pearl River County Coroner Derek Turnage said the juveniles were identified as Brandon Heidel, 17, and Gavin Bennett, 13. He said their causes of death were due to blunt force trauma due to being struck by a vehicle.

Update 11-17-20

The following is from a press released issued by MHP Tuesday afernoon.

“Upon arriving it appeared a 2014 GMC Terrain was traveling south when the GMC crashed into three juveniles that were walking in the southbound lane of Highway 43. Two of the juveniles, 13-year-old Gavin Bennett and 17- year-old Brandon Heidel, were pronounced dead on scene. The other pedestrian, 16-year-old Brycen Bennett, was transported to Highland Community Hospital with minor injuries. The driver of the vehicle left the scene for over an hour. The driver, 18-year-old Jarron Petties, returned to the scene and was taken into custody and charged with two counts of Felony Accident Leaving the Scene with Injury and Death.

MHP CRASH Reconstruction Team and MBI Special Agents, are gathering all relevant evidence and conducting interviews as part of this ongoing investigation. All investigative findings will be shared with the District Attorney’s office throughout the process for consideration and review.”

The original story is below. 

According to a press release issued by the Mississippi Highway Patrol troopers responded to a vehicle versus pedestrian collision Saturday morning, Nov. 14, 2020, at 7:09 a.m. The incident occurred on Highway 43 North near Burnt Bridge Road in Pearl River County. The vehicle collision involved three juveniles and claimed the life of two. The third juvenile was transported to a local hospital for treatment of moderate injuries, the release states.

“The Mississippi Highway Patrol CRASH Reconstruction Team and the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation are investigating the crash. The collision is an ongoing investigation, more information will be available as the investigation continues,” the release states.