Morton High School linebacker killed in wreck

Morton High School linebacker Lane Bailey was killed in a car wreck early Sunday morning, authorities said.

Scott County Sheriff Mike Lee confirmed that the wreck happened on the interstate in Pelahatchie. Bailey, a junior, was on his way to go hunting when the accident occurred, Lee said.

Pelahatchie Police Chief Kevin Poole said his office got the call at 5:53 a.m. The vehicle left I-20 between the 68 and 69 mile markers, he said.

Rankin County Coroner David Ruth said Bailey, 18, was ejected. Authorities said he was listed as the driver.

There was another person in the vehicle who was asleep when the accident occurred and woke up to the vehicle flipping down the roadway, authorities said. The passenger sustained non life-threatening injuries.

Poole said he cannot release further information yet. The wreck is still under investigation. It's  unclear what caused it, though deer are moving early in the morning this time of year.

"It's something we may never know," Ruth said.

Lee said he has known Bailey and his family for quite some time.

"He was a very good kid," Lee said.

Morton coach Ty Weems described Bailey as a superb athlete who was well-liked by the entire town. Weems said Bailey had an infectious personality and kids gravitated toward him.

“They looked at him as a leader even though he may not have been the star athlete of the team,” Weems said. “Other kids started to look up to him.”

Bailey played linebacker, defensive end, punter and quarterback at times for Morton.

SEE ALSO: Tri-County Academy center killed in car accident

Bailey completed 78 of 153 passes for 1,626 yards and 22 touchdowns against five interceptions last year as a sophomore.

“He was tremendous for us that year,” Weems said.

Early on this past season, it was decided that Dandy Dozen athlete D.D. Bowie would play quarterback and Bailey, who had completed 23 of 56 passes for 252 yards with four touchdowns and four interceptions, would be moved to defense as a linebacker/defensive end.

Bailey made a smooth transition to defense, racking up 64 total tackles, including 41 solo stops, with five sacks. He accepted the change without any complaints, and Morton finished the year 8-4 and made the playoffs.

“He played multiple positions and did whatever we asked of him without any hesitation,” Weems said. “For that kid to be selfless enough to step aside and say he would do whatever it takes to help the team, to go to the other side of the field and play defense and never complain about it, that just speaks to who he was as a person. He was a great kid.”

Bailey is the third Mississippi high school football player killed in a wreck in a week. Tri-County center Taylor Martin was killed in a crash Tuesday, less than two days before his team was scheduled to play Canton Academy in the state championship. Brandon Cleckler, 18, a senior center and nose guard at Sumrall High School, was killed in a single-vehicle wreck Sunday afternoon on Mississippi 42 on Nov. 14.

This is a developing story.

Contact Therese Apel at tapel@gannett.com. Follow her on Facebook and Twitter.