Two juveniles were injured and one died as the result of a single vehicle accident that could have involved alcohol as a contributing factor.
Pearl River County Sheriff’s Department Chief Deputy Shane Tucker said the accident was reported to emergency personnel Saturday morning at 2:47. Deputies and EMS personnel arrived to find three male juveniles involved in the single vehicle accident; two 17-year-olds and one 16-year-old.
Pearl River County Deputy Coroner Albert Lee identified the deceased as 16-year-old Devin DeSoto of Poplarville.
At the time of the accident, the three young men were riding in a 2003 Ford F-150 along the 600 block of Progress Road when the vehicle left the road, striking a mail box, a parked car and finally a house, Tucker said.
Residents inside the home were not injured, but were awakened from their sleep due to the noise caused by the accident.
“The homeowner said it sounded like a bomb went off,” Tucker said.
The impact of the F-150 moved the parked vehicle about 20 feet.
Tucker said the occupants were not wearing their seatbelt but were not ejected from the F-150.
Investigation into the accident found that possible contributing factors could be excessive speed and alcohol, Tucker said. The Mississippi Crime Lab is conducting tests on a blood sample to determine if the driver was under the influence. If alcohol is determined to be a contributing factor, charges would follow.
Tucker would like to encourage all parents to speak to their children about the dangers of drinking and driving.
“It’s always tragic to see a young life lost in this manner,” Tucker said.
Lee said the cause of death was listed as blunt force trauma combined with a major head injury.
Both survivors of the accident were transported to Forrest General Hospital in Hattiesburg for treatment.