Compared to 2022, this year’s Thanksgiving holiday on Mississippi highways was less deadly and less dangerous, according to statistics from the Mississippi Highway Patrol.

MHP officials responded to three fatal crashes and reported three deaths during the 2023 Thanksgiving Holiday Travel Period. This year’s numbers represent a 50% decrease in deaths and fatal crashes — with 6 deaths and 6 fatal crashes reported in 2022.

The number of citations issued this year also decreased significantly this year compared to 2022, down by more than 2,400. This year, MHP officials issued 6,766 citations compared to 9,170 citations issued in 2022.

DUIs were also down in 2023. This year MHP reported 109 DUIs compared to 172 DUIs in 2022.

MHP investigated 169 crashes resulting in 43 injuries with three fatal crashes and three deaths during the Thanksgiving Holiday Travel Period.

The fatal crashes occurred in Jackson, Copiah and Choctaw counties.

The travel period concluded Sunday, Nov. 26, at midnight. The period began on Wednesday, Nov. 22.

On Wednesday, Nov. 22, at approximately 1 a.m., MHP responded to a fatal crash on Highway 63 in Jackson County involving a pedestrian. A 2000 Honda Civic driven by Richard Thomas, 55, of Moss Point was traveling north on Highway 63 and Jesiah Cady, 33, of Jackson was walking south on Highway 63 in the northbound lane.

The Honda Civic collided with Jesiah Cady, who received fatal injuries from the crash and was pronounced dead on the scene.

On Wednesday, Nov. 22, at 4:50 p.m., MHP responded to a single-vehicle crash on Highway 27 in Copiah County. A 2008 Volkswagen driven by 49-year-old Deangelo Kelly was traveling south on Highway 27 when it ran off the road and into a ditch. Kelly received fatal injuries from the crash and was pronounced dead on the scene.

On Saturday, Nov. 25, at approximately 11 a.m., MHP responded to a fatal crash on McGee-Thompson Road in Choctaw County.

A 2012 Mercedes Benz driven by 42-year-old Westley Jermont Ashford of Weir traveled west on McGee-Thompson Road when the vehicle left the right side of the roadway and overturned. Ashford received fatal injuries from the crash.

Travel Period Overview
Citations – 6766
Seatbelt and Child Restraint – 875
DUIs – 109
Drug Related Arrest – 45
Crashes – 169
Fatal Crashes – 3
Fatalities – 3
Motorist Assist – 85

2022 Totals
Citations – 9170
Seatbelt and Child Restraint – 645
DUIs – 172
Drug Related Arrest – 39
Crashes – 212
Fatal Crashes – 6
Fatalities – 6
Motorist Assist – 104