Laurel, MS : Three people dead after a police chase in Jones County early Wednesday, June 29, 2016

Three people are dead after an overnight police chase in Jones County.

On Wednesday around 2 a.m., a Jones County Sheriff’s deputy was patrolling the Eastview Road area when the deputy saw a car coming in the opposite direction and toward the deputy.

The deputy saw the car cross the center line of the road and had only one headlight, according to a JCSD press release. The deputy had to pull over on the shoulder to avoid being hit by the car, and then the deputy turned around and attempted to make a traffic stop.

According to the release, the deputy had to call another patrol unit for assistance as the driver refused to yield to the blue lights.

The driver continued driving southbound and ran a stop sign at Eastview Road and Highway 84 East. Another patrol unit was waiting to assist at Lower Myrick Road. The driver kept going and failed to yield.

The deputies followed the car for about 17 miles. On Highway 15 South, the driver lost control of the car and hit a wood-lined area before it stopped.

Mississippi Highway Patrol and emergency responders were immediately called to the scene.

All occupants of the vehicle were pronounced dead at the scene, according to a JCSD press release. The victims identified are Kayla Lovett, 20 of Laurel, Josh Lovett, 33 of Laurel and Rustin Sims, 23 of Ovett, according to the Jones County Coroner’s Office.

Because of the severe damage to the vehicle, it took responders several hours to extricate the victims, according to the Jones County Fire Council.

Hwy 15 South was closed until 6:30 a.m. Wednesday.

The vehicle was traveling at a high-rate of speed, but the cause of the accident is unknown.

MHP and the JCSD are actively investigating the accident.

Rescue personnel on scene included Ovett and Glade Volunteer Fire Departments, EMServ Ambulance Service, Jones County Sheriff's Department, Mississippi Highway Patrol, Jones County Coroner's Office, Jones County District Attorney Wayne Black and Fire Coordinator 2 Gordon Pitts.

Source :
3 dead in overnight police chase