Two Die in Holiday Traffic Accidents

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) – Two people died in separate accidents on state highways over the New Year’s holiday in Mississippi, according to the Highway Patrol.

Highway Patrol spokesman Lt. Johnny Poulos says in a news release that troopers issued 2,053 tickets, including 78 DUI arrests, 78 seatbelt citations and 10 child restraint citations. The enforcement period began at 6 p.m. Wednesday and ended at midnight Thursday.

Poulos says the patrol investigated 70 crashes with two fatalities and 24 injuries.

The patrol says 42-year-old Adrian Ojeda of Laurel died Thursday in a two-vehicle accident on Mississippi Highway 15 in Jasper County.

The other fatality occurred Wednesday in a two-vehicle accident on Mississippi Highway 57 in Jackson County. Troopers say 61-year-old John Brown of Vancleave died in the head-on crash. Both accidents are under investigation.

Troopers working out of the Starkville based Troop G issued 274 citations including 12 for DUI while Troop F in New Albany handed out 379 tickets and made 11 DUI arrests.