By By Sheila Blackmon/The Meridian Star
Aug. 10, 2001
A three-car accident about noon Thursday in Meridian has resulted in the death of an infant.
Lt. Wade Johnson of the Meridian Police Department said the accident occurred at the intersection of First Street and Highway 19 North which becomes Highway 11 South.
Johnson said 6-month-old Ji'Kendrick LaShawn Alford of Toomsuba died of injuries sustained in the collision.
Coroner Marl Cobler said the baby was pronounced dead at 12:35 p.m. at Jeff Anderson Regional Medical Center.
Johnson said the traffic accident involved a black 1994 Nissan Maxima, a blue 1982 Mazda pick-up and a white 1998 Ford Escort.
He said Amy Alford of Toomsuba, the baby's mother, was driving the Maxima. She was treated at Jeff Anderson and released. Two other passengers, James Alford and Takeisha Carlisle, were treated at Rush Foundation Hospital and released.
Johnson said Catherine Ellis of Hickory, who was driving the Escort, was treated at Jeff Anderson and released. He said neither the driver of the Mazda, Curtis McClelland of Meridian, nor his passenger, Jessie Matthews of Detroit, sought immediate medical attention.
Cobler said the baby died of multiple skull fractures.
The Meridian Police Department's Advanced Accident Investigation Team is looking into the accident to determine which vehicles collided first and which collision was secondary, Johnson said.
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.