A Steens woman died Sunday after a collision on Highway 12 with a Lowndes County sheriff’s deputy’s vehicle, according to Lowndes County Coroner Greg Merchant.
Merchant identified the woman as Sarah Jackson, 85. She was taken to Baptist Memorial Hospital-Golden Triangle after the crash, where Merchant said she died from her injuries a short time later.
Sgt. Derrick Beckom told The Dispatch Mississippi Highway Patrol responded to the two-vehicle crash at about 1:45 p.m. Saturday. Beckom identified the deputy as Rachel Basher, 28, of Columbus, who was responding to an emergency call and had her vehicle’s lights and siren engaged.
Beckom said both cars were traveling west on Highway 12 near Billy Kidd Road northeast of Columbus when the deputy collided with the left side of Jackson’s vehicle. MHP is still investigating the circumstances of what caused the collision, Beckom said Monday.
Speaking with The Dispatch Monday, Sheriff Eddie Hawkins said Basher was one of two deputies responding to a disturbance call when the accident occurred. Jackson’s vehicle was sitting still in the right lane when the first deputy passed on the left. As Basher tried to go around her, Hawkins said, Jackson turned left toward a driveway and crossed into the deputy’s path.
After the collision, Basher’s vehicle rolled several times before landing upside down near a treeline, Hawkins said. Both drivers needed to be cut from their vehicles.
Basher was treated for minor injuries at BMH-GT and has since been released, Hawkins said.
“This was just a horrific accident,” Hawkins said. “Our thoughts and prayers are with (Jackson’s) family. We never want anything like this to happen.”
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