3 dead in crash after running from Jones County deputies
Three people are dead in a Jones County car wreck after they refused to yield to a Jones County deputy.
Jones County Coroner Nancy Barnett confirmed that Kayla Lovett, 20 of Laurel; Josh Lovett, 33 of Laurel; and Rustin Sims, 23 of Ovett were all pronounced dead on the scene by deputy coroners Burl Hall and Paul Sheffield after losing control of their vehicle and crashing into the woods, according to Sheriff Alex Hodge's office.
A release from Hodge said around 2 a.m. Wednesday morning, a Jones County deputy noticed a vehicle coming in the opposite direction and it crossed the center line of the road. In addition, it had only one headlight. The deputy pulled to the side of the road in order to avoid being hit.
He then turned around to try to pull the vehicle over, and the driver refused to yield to the blue lights and continued south, running a stop sign at Eastview Road and Highway 84 East.
The deputy continued to follow the car to Lower Myrick Road, where another deputy was waiting to assist.
The chase continued on to Highway 15 South, and lasted approximately another 17 miles. Kayla Lovett, who was driving, then lost control of the car and it hit a tree-lined area before stopping.
Emergency responders and the Mississippi Highway Patrol were called to the scene.
Barnett said her office received the call around 2:39 a.m. She said there were no survivors in the vehicle.
Upon request by the Jones County Sheriff’s Department, the Mississippi Highway Patrol is actively investigating the accident.
This is a developing story.
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Contact Therese Apel at tapel@gannett.com. Follow her on Facebook and Twitter.