The Mississippi Highway Patrol (MHP) wrapped up the 2024 Christmas Holiday Travel Period at midnight on Dec. 26. The enforcement campaign, which began on Dec. 23 at 6 a.m., resulted in thousands of citations, dozens of DUI arrests, and investigations into multiple crashes, including four fatal accidents.

During the three days, MHP issued 4,154 citations, arrested 54 drivers for impaired driving, and cited 411 motorists for seatbelt and child restraint violations. Officers also responded to 172 crashes, resulting in 39 injuries and four fatalities.

The fatal crashes occurred in Pike, Noxubee, Stone, and Lincoln counties.

Fatal Crash Summaries

Pike County – Dec. 24, 2024

At approximately 4:03 a.m., a 2024 Dodge Ram traveling north on I-55 left the roadway, collided with a tree, and caught fire. The driver sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene. Identification of the victim is pending.

Noxubee County – Dec. 24, 2024

At 5:58 p.m., a two-vehicle crash occurred at Highway 45A and Highway 388. A 2025 Freightliner driven by Steven Nunn, 43, of Preston, Miss., collided with a 2013 Chevrolet Tahoe driven by Donald Henley, 31, of Crawford, Miss. The passenger in the Tahoe, Eric Harris, 38, died at the scene. Henley sustained serious injuries and was airlifted to Tupelo Hospital.

Stone County – Dec. 25, 2024

At 11:15 a.m., a 2005 Ford Escape driven by Danna Bennett, 45, of Biloxi, Miss., overturned after leaving the roadway on Highway 49. Bennett died at the scene.

Lincoln County – Dec. 25, 2024

At 6:38 p.m., a 2002 Chevrolet Impala driven by Anthony Rollings, 29, of Brookhaven, Miss., collided with a 2012 Toyota Tundra driven by Geneva Waterman, 44, also of Brookhaven. Rollings sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene.

Holiday Enforcement Statistics

MHP provided a comparative summary of enforcement activities during the 2024 and 2023 Christmas travel periods:

Category	2024	2023
Citations	4,154	2,544
Seatbelt/Child Restraint	411	270
DUIs	54	78
Crashes	172	144
Fatal Crashes	4	1
Fatalities	4	1
Motorist Assists	46	54

Ongoing Investigations

MHP continues to investigate the circumstances surrounding each of the fatal crashes.

The department reminded motorists of the importance of safe driving practices during the holidays. “These statistics underscore the need for vigilance on our roadways,” an MHP spokesperson said. “We urge drivers to prioritize safety to prevent tragedies like these from occurring.”