Woman’s body lands on interstate
WINONA – Authorities from the Mississippi Highway Patrol (MHP) said they’re wrapping up their investigation of two fatal accidents in Montgomery County last month that left three people, including a couple from Florida, dead.
On Friday, May 20, Trooper Anthony Dunn said Nathaniel Calhoun Sr, and his wife, Barbra, were traveling northbound on I-55 about a half mile past Winona when Nathaniel went off the shoulder in his 2001 Ford-250 about 12:15 p.m.
Dunn said the 75-year old Pensacola, Florida resident tried to come back to the roadway when he lost control of the vehicle.
“He overcorrected,” Dunn said, “when he tried to come back on the highway and he overturned and flipped several times in the median. His wife, Barbra, was not wearing a seatbelt, and she was thrown about 300 feet into the southbound lane.”
Dunn said the vehicle came to a final rest in the middle median between the north and southbound lanes facing east. Nathaniel was still inside.
“He had a seatbelt on and he was still inside the vehicle when they found him,” Dunn said.
Both Nathaniel and 71-year old Barbra were pronounced dead at the scene by Montgomery County Coroner Karl Oliver.
Dunn said traffic in the northbound lane of I-55 was not obstructed, but responding personnel had to stop traffic in the southbound lanes to clean up the scene.
“We had to stop traffic about 30 minutes until we got Ms. Barbra’s body off the highway,” Dunn said. “We had help from the Winona Police Department, the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Department and the Winona Fire Department. They all assisted in the rescue and recovery efforts out there and I’d like to give them a thumbs up for their efforts.”
Dunn said a reconstruction on the accident has been done, but there is no official cause of the accident.
Dunn said the couple had at least one son in Florida and a daughter in Memphis.
Three days later on Monday, May 23, Dunn said a 56-year old man was killed when he was hit by a semi-truck while standing in front of a vehicle.
Dunn said Robert Jolly, of Cedar Bluff, was pronounced dead at the scene after being hit by Ben Cliett, also of Cedar Bluff. The accident occurred about 9 p.m. near the Montgomery/Webster County line.
Dunn said Cliett was traveling eastbound in a 2005 International 18-wheeler when he “traveled to the right shoulder.” As he moved over, Dunn said he collided with a 1996 Chrysler LHS that was parked on the shoulder.
Jolly was standing in front of the car when it was hit by Cliett.
Dunn said an MHP investigation determined that Jolly was assisting another vehicle on the median that was having trouble.
“We don’t know where the other vehicle went, or where that driver was,” Dunn said. “But Mr. Jolly had pulled over to assist.”
Dunn said paramedics responded to the scene, but Jolly was pronounced dead by the Montgomery County coroner.
Cliett was not injured and Dunn said no charges have been made against him.
Dunn said a toxicology screen has been ordered for Cliett.
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