3 troopers involved in Lincoln County wrecks; 1 critical
UPDATE: Trooper injured in Sunday wreck still critical
8:45 p.m.:
University of Mississippi Medical Center officials said the injured trooper's official status is critical.
ORIGINAL STORY:
Three Mississippi Highway Patrol troopers were involved in related Sunday afternoon wrecks, officials said, and one is severely injured.
Highway Patrol spokesman Cpl. Brandon Fortenberry said a trooper was responding to a wreck when his vehicle left the road on I-55 near Bogue Chitto, at the 31 mile marker. Fortenberry said the wreck appears to have been a result of severe weather.
The trooper was dispatched to a call at 3:48 p.m., and dispatch lost contact with him at 4:06 p.m., Fortenberry said.
Another trooper responded to the accident, which he locatedat 4:22 p.m.Finding the trooper involved in the first wreck severely injured, the second trooper put him in his patrol car.
"He made the decision to seek immediate medical attention as quick as possible, so he put him in his patrol unit to travel to the hospital," Fortenberry said.
The second accident occurred shortly afterward on U.S. 84 near U.S. 51, Fortenberry said. A Lincoln County deputy ended up transporting both troopers to King's Daughters Medical Center in his patrol car.
A third trooper, responding to help with the first wreck, then had a wreck on U.S. 84 near Jackson-Liberty Road.
Both the second and third wrecks were also due to the heavy rainstorms, officials said.
Responders said they called for a helicopter to fly the critically injured trooper from the first accident to Jackson, but the weather prohibited flight. He was transported to the University of Mississippi Medical Center by ambulance instead.
Sheriff Steve Rushing said his agency is assisting but that MHP is handling the wrecks.
The trooper in the first accident suffered heavy head trauma, officials said. The other two were not treated for any injuries. None of the troopers' identities has been released.
Fortenberry said more information will be released as it becomes available.
This is a developing story.
Contact Therese Apel at tapel@gannett.com. Follow her on Facebook and Twitter.