3 missing drivers in 6-car New Year crash

Therese Apel
Mississippi Clarion Ledger

Three drivers left the scene of a wreck and reported their cars stolen after six cars were involved in a crash in Copiah County early Sunday morning.

MHP

Mississippi Highway Patrol spokesman Eric Henry said around 3:30 a.m., troopers were called to a wreck on I-55 near the 65 mile marker. A white Audi was rear-ended by a Nissan Maxima in the northbound lane, and four other vehicles collided with each other trying to avoid the original collision.

After making contact with the Audi, the Maxima left the road and caught fire. There were minor injuries and two people were transported to Hardy Wilson Hospital in Hazlehurst. 

Henry said the three drivers who later reported their vehicles stolen, including the Maxima and the Audi, left the scene on foot. Police are still trying to locate those drivers. 

"We believe that alcohol played a major factor in the crash," Henry said in the statement.

SEE ALSO: 18-wheeler wrecks in Yazoo County, driver charged

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