Purvis, MS : Two Sumrall Volunteer Firefighters killed in hit-and-run accident in Lamar County on Wednesday evening, March 15, 2017

Two Sumrall Volunteer Firefighters were killed and another was injured in a hit-and-run accident Wednesday evening.

Lamar County Coroner Cody Creel identified the victims as Clinton Alvin Beasley, 80, and Loretta Ann Sykes, 53. Both were pronounced dead at the scene by Creel. The other volunteer firefighter that was injured was transported by ambulance to Forrest General Hospital.

The wreck occurred at the intersection of Mississippi 589 and Oloh Road just after 6 p.m.

"The cause of the hit-and-run accident is still under investigation at this time," Sumrall Police Chief Chris Dungan said.

According to Dungan, the vehicle was traveling south on Hwy 589 when it veered onto Oloh Road and struck the three firefighters.

Dungan said the vehicle was stopped nearby in a residential area off Scruggs Road.

"The driver was taken into custody and transported to the Lamar County Jail," Lamar County Sheriff Danny Rigel said.

The name of the suspect and charges are not being released at this time. According to officials, the suspect and the vehicle were found on Magnolia Crossing Road, which is about six miles from the scene of the accident.

Dungan said the firefighters were helping with traffic flow after an earlier incident involving a dump truck that got tangled in power lines on the opposite side of Hwy 589.

"We just ask for the people to pray for these families that lost these two fine individuals," Lamar County Supervisor Dale Lucus said. "You couldn't ask for better volunteer firefighters, they were always were willing to make any call day or night."

Lamar County Fire Coordinator George Stevens said the incident is a horrible tragedy.

"These are the first two firefighters killed in the line of duty in my career here," Stevens said.

Lucus said all of the supervisors have been notified in the county.

"We just ask for prayers for the entire Lamar County volunteer fire department, they are all family and they are hurting," Lucus said.

The Sumrall Police Department is investigating the accident, along with Mississippi Highway Patrol and the Lamar County Sheriff's Department.

Source :
Victims identified in hit-and-run accident in Lamar Co.