Two students were killed in a car wreck Sunday on Highway 25 returning from Spring Break in Leake County.
Michael Cain, Mississippi Highway Patrol accident reconstuctionist, said the accident happened about 3:10 p.m. Sunday.
“The accident occurred at the intersection of Highway 25 and Red Dog Road in Leake County, about a mile south of Carthage,” Cain said.
He said the accident involved two vehicles.
“Derrick Moss of Pulaski was driving the first vehicle,” Cain said. “He had three other passengers in the car with him at the time of the accident.”
The second vehicle was a 1999 Toyota, Cain said.
He said entomology graduate student Bradley Gibson, who was driving the second vehicle, was originally taken to Leake Memorial Hospital and then air lifted to University Medical Center where he died about 6:10 p.m.
Cain said there were two passengers with Gibson.
Junior human sciences major Lyndsi Hill was also transported to Leake Memorial and air lifted to University Medical Center and died about 8:40 the next morning, he said.
Cain said the other occupant of the vehicle was Jonathon Chandler of Brandon, Miss. He was transported by private vehicle to UMC with no life-threatening injuries.
Cain said according to the preliminary accident report, Moss pulled out in front of Gibson, but no charges have been filed at this time.
MSU alumnus Marshall Bailey was a good friend of Gibson.
“Bradley was a fun guy,” Bailey said. “He was really funny, always had a smile on his face and had a lot of friends.”
Bailey said Gibson was always having a good time.
“Bradley definitely lived his life to the fullest,” Bailey said. “He never met a stranger – a real friendly guy.”
Bailey said Gibson loved MSU.
“He never missed a home football game and he loved to tailgate,” Bailey said. “During baseball season, he loved to go sit in Left Field Lounge.”
MSU alumnus Leigh Ann Weaver said some of her favorite memories with Gibson were at football games.
“We went to every game, and I loved the trips to away games with him,” Weaver said.
She said Gibson was an extremely generous person.
“He was always willing to do anything for anyone,” Weaver said. “He could always make me laugh no matter what and put a smile on my face.”
Weaver said the one thing she is going to miss the most about Gibson is getting to talk to him every single day.
“I am going to miss his random text messages and stories that he told over and over,” she said.
Hill was a junior majoring in human sciences.
Senior elementary education major Sunny Lynn Vanlandingham has known Hill since the seventh grade.
“I remember when we met,” Vanlandingham said. “She had a swimming party at her house and we had the best time.”
Vanlandingham said she was roommates with Hill their freshman year at MSU.
“We had so much fun decorating our room and making memories together,” Vanlandingham said. “There is just so much about Lyndsi I am going to miss.”
She said Hill was always the life of the party.
“Lyndsi was the one who would help up get dressed up and do our hair when we went out,” she said.
Vanlandingham said Hill was always having fun and loved to make new friends.
“I am going to miss just hanging out and laughing with Lyndsi,” she said. “She was always there, and I am going to miss making memories with her.”
Junior art major Brad Kidder has been good friends with Hill since high school.
“Lyndsi was special,” Kidder said. “She always had something to do or had something big planned.”
He said Hill was always honest with everyone.
“She was not afraid to speak her mind,” Kidder said. “If she had a problem, she would confront just about anyone.”
Kidder said Hill would just go with the flow.
“During the summer, Lyndsi was always on the river,” he said. “She would be on a boat the entire summer.”
Kidder said Hill was always fun to be around.
“My favorite memory with Lyndsi was Spring Break of our senior year in high school,” he said. “We went down to the beach had a great time. We ended up getting kicked out of the hotel for swimming in the pool after hours. I will never forget it.”