By Staff
DIZZY SPELL Two unrelated traffic accidents occurred two-tenths of a mile apart Friday afternoon on Interstate 20 east of Meridian. A Mississippi Highway Patrol spokesman said the driver of this Nissan Altima became dizzy and her car struck a Suburban. Photo by Carisa McCain/The Meridian Star
By Sheila Blackmon/The Meridian Star
June 30, 2001
Mississippi Highway Patrol spokesmen say construction and a driver's dizzy spell may have contributed to two accidents late Friday afternoon involving four cars near the 158-mile marker on Interstate 20/59.
Traffic was backed up for miles in the eastbound lanes as two MHP sergeants worked the accidents two-tenths of a mile apart. Both accidents occurred about 5:20 p.m.
First accident
Sgt. Herman Bouldin said the first accident occurred when Sharon S. Smith, driving a Nissan Altima, suffered a dizzy spell. He said her car rear-ended a Suburban driven by Melba J. Edwards. Both women are from Toomsuba.
Both women appeared uninjured. Bouldin said both wore seat belts.
Second accident
The Toyota veered left into the median, and the van left the road to the right, into the emergency lane area and out of the line of traffic, he said.
The unidentified white male in the Toyota was transported to a local hospital. His name was unavailable.
Myron Boydstun, moving his family from Texas back to their former hometown of Huntsville, Ala., was driving a yellow passenger van in front of his wife's maroon one. Three of their children were riding with him and the other four were in the van with their mother when the accident occurred.
He said he saw his wife's van hit the Toyota and then they "split down the middle" the Toyota going one way and his wife's van the other.
His wife and children are fine, Boydstun said.
Moss said he worked accidents in that area on two consecutive days. On Thursday, an 18-wheeler rear-ended another not far from the site of Friday's accident, he said. After working that accident, Moss was on his way back to Meridian when he saw a Chevrolet in an accident 2 miles from the first accident. Both were in the eastbound lane. Nobody was injured in the earlier accidents.
Moss said he urges drivers to buckle up and pay close attention, especially in areas of the highway under construction.
Sheila Blackmon is a staff writer for The Meridian Star. Call her at 693-1551, ext. 3275, or e-mail her at sblackmon@themeridianstar.com.