The Mississippi Highway Patrol released new details today about an accident which claimed the lives of two Mississippi State University students.
Bradley Gibson and Lyndsi Hill were both killed after a Sunday afternoon traffic accident in Leake County.
According to the accident report from the Mississippi Highway Patrol, around 3:10 p.m., Gibson, Hill and another passenger — Jonathan Chandler — were headed north on Highway 25 in a 1999 Toyota when a 1996 Dodge pick-up, driven by Derrick Moss, 18, of Pulaski, pulled out from Red Dog Road, in front of the car.
The impact threw all three passengers out of the small car, according to the MHP. Gibson, Hill and Chandler were all taken to Leake Memorial Hospital in Carthage. Gibson and Chandler were then airlifted to University Medical Center in Jackson.
Gibson died from injuries sustained from the accident at 6:10 p.m.; Hill died the next morning at 8:40, according to MHP Capt. Billy Mayes of the Highway Patrol”s District 6 office in Meridian. Official causes of death are unknown. Chandler was transported by private vehicle to UMC for treatment of non-life threatening injuries.
The sudden death of Gibson and Hill has brought about the prayers and kind words of friends, which — if the memorial page already established on the social networking site Facebook is any indication — the two had in spades.
“Bradley was a cool guy and a good friend,” Andrew Johnson said via e-mail, responding to a Facebook invitation from The Dispatch to send in comments about Gibson and Hill.
Cassidy Prescott, also in an e-mail, admits she didn”t know Gibson or Hill well, but during the few times she spent time with the two, a deep impression was made.
“Lyndsi was a very beautiful girl and had one of those laughs that made everyone else laugh with her,” Prescott wrote. “Brad was lots of fun to be around; he always had a funny story to tell or could make you laugh about anything. They will both be greatly missed and this world has lost two very great people.”
Three other juvenile passengers were riding with Moss at the time of the accident, said Mayes. All four were taken for treatment to Leake Memorial and were released the same day.
Misdemeanor charges could be presented against Moss, he noted; heavier charges are not likely.
Neither drugs nor alcohol are thought to be contributing factors in the accident.
Funeral arrangements for Hill are incomplete and will be handled by Lowndes Funeral Home in Columbus. Arrangements for Gibson will be handled by Chancellor Funeral Home in Byram and also are incomplete.
The Dispatch Editorial Board is made up of publisher Peter Imes, columnist Slim Smith, managing editor Zack Plair and senior newsroom staff.
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