Community mourns after police pursuit ends with crash that kills beloved Mississippi business owner
Published 12:55 pm Tuesday, March 19, 2024
The pursuit of a man fleeing from a traffic stop in Louisiana ended Monday in a three-vehicle accident that killed a Mississippi business owner and injured two other drivers.
Jason Tyson was the third-generation owner of the popular Donut Shop in Natchez after inheriting the business from his late stepfather, the “Donut Man” George Scott and his mother Mary Tyson Scott in 2014. The couple had run The Donut Shop since 1991, when they bought it from Mary’s aunt and uncle, Dot and Junior Price.
Jason Tyson, his wife Stephanie, his mother and his son Koen have run the business since 2014 and successfully opened a second Donut Shop in Gulfport in April 2022.
Jerry’s Donut Shop, located across the river in Vidalia, shared condolences to the Tyson family on its social media page.
“Everyone please be in prayer for the families of Jason Tyson. I can only say I have the utmost respect for the man he was to us in the donut world and just in general, a great guy! Always helpful. Always. He was our friend and never disappointed. Time is a thief! His presence on earth will surely be missed by many.”
Officials with the Concordia Parish Sheriff’s Office confirmed that the accident that took Tyson’s life began with a traffic stop at approximately 5:45 p.m. on U.S. 84 in Ferriday.
The driver, 29-year-old Ben Ceasor, fled the scene during the traffic stop, causing a collision with a vehicle on EE Wallace Boulevard near the Ferriday Home Hardware store.
The two other drivers involved, including Ceasor, were injured.
Louisiana State Police is leading the investigation of the accident.
Ceasor has been booked in Concordia Parish on charges of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, vehicular homicide, vehicular negligent injuring, felony hit and run, aggravated flight from an officer, resisting an officer and has a hold from another agency, according to arrest records.
This story will be updated with more information as it becomes available.