What was supposed to be a festive Independence Day weekend on Mississippi roads turned tragic, as troopers say two people were killed and dozens more were hurt in separate crashes in Marion and DeSoto counties. The Mississippi Highway Patrol reported that the wrecks were part of a particularly busy enforcement period in which troopers worked roughly 110 crashes statewide. Both fatal collisions remain under investigation as authorities try to sort out exactly what unfolded.
Marion County Crash Claims Life Of Slidell Man
In Marion County, the deadly crash happened just before 10 p.m. on Friday. Investigators say a 2009 Cadillac CTS was heading south on Ward Road when it collided with a westbound 2014 Ford F-150 on U.S. 98. According to WHLT, the driver of the Cadillac, 46-year-old Leonard J. Landry of Slidell, Louisiana, died at the scene. A passenger in the Cadillac was rushed to a local hospital with serious injuries.
Troopers reported that the Ford F-150 driver was not injured. The Mississippi Highway Patrol is continuing to investigate the circumstances of the crash.
Pedestrians Hit On Highway 302 In DeSoto County
The second deadly incident unfolded in DeSoto County just after 9 p.m. on Saturday. Troopers say a westbound 2019 Nissan Sentra struck two pedestrians on Highway 302 near Poplar Corner Road. Per WJTV, 38-year-old James Taylor of Clarksdale died at the scene. The other pedestrian was taken to Regional One Medical Center in Memphis with serious injuries.
According to the report, the driver of the Sentra suffered minor injuries and was transported to Baptist DeSoto Hospital. The crash remains under active investigation by MHP.
Holiday Enforcement Totals And Year-To-Year Shift
Across the state, the Mississippi Highway Patrol reported investigating about 110 crashes from Friday morning through Sunday night. Those wrecks resulted in 38 injuries and two deaths. Officials told WTVA that the tally represented an increase in fatalities compared with the 2025 Independence Day enforcement period, when MHP recorded one traffic death.
Troopers had already warned that the mix of holiday traffic, long drives, and celebrations can be a rough combination on the roads. Ahead of the Fourth, the agency boosted patrols and safety checkpoints to crack down on impaired and distracted driving.
MHP Troop J Public Affairs Officer Hunter Forbes underscored the message in a pre-holiday interview. "We just ask you to slow down, we want you to arrive alive," Forbes told WDAM. Troopers said the combination of extra patrols and checkpoints was aimed at cutting both the number and severity of crashes.
MHP investigators are still gathering evidence in the Marion and DeSoto County wrecks and plan to release more information as the cases move forward. Reporting by WAPT and other local outlets continues to track developments at each crash scene. Troopers are asking anyone who may have witnessed the collisions or who has video from the areas to contact their nearest Mississippi Highway Patrol office.
