A former Mississippi State University student died, a current student was injured and a third person died Sunday afternoon in a car crash in southern DeSoto County.
The car rolled over and struck a tree on Getwell Road south of Hernando, and two men died at the scene, DeSoto County Coroner Joshua Pounders told The Dispatch on Monday.
The two men were Michael Taylor, 21, who was driving the car, and Christian Compton, 23, DeSoto County Sheriff’s Office public information officer Tish Clark said. Both men were from Olive Branch, and Compton is a former MSU student, MSU chief communications officer Sid Salter said.
Sloan McClatchy, 21, was airlifted to Regional One Health Medical Center in Memphis. She “suffered many injuries” but was in stable condition by Monday morning, Clark said. McClatchy is a rising MSU senior from Red Banks, and she is studying fashion design and merchandising, Salter said.
DCSO responded to the wreck at 5:35 p.m. Sunday, Clark said, and it is still under investigation.
MSU President Mark Keenum issued a statement Monday offering condolences.
“We were stunned after learning of this tragedy and deeply mourn the loss of these fine members of our MSU family,” Keenum said. “Our prayers remain with the families and friends of the three young people involved in this horrific accident. Any time MSU students lose their lives, the entire institution is diminished.”
Tess Vrbin was previously a reporter for The Dispatch.
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