Two women were killed on Highway 82 in Columbus Thursday night after a vehicle they were riding in was struck by an 18-wheeler.
Angela Michelle Dame Hopper, 43, and Taesha Young, 28, both of Macon, were passengers in an east-bound Crown Victoria driven by Antonio Gregory, 28, of Columbus, at approximately 7 p.m. when the vehicle was stuck from behind by an 18-wheeler driven by Timothy Lee Webb. Gregory was able to exit the vehicle just prior to impact.
Lowndes County Deputy Coroner Tim Hamilton said Hopper, the front seat passenger, died on the scene from blunt force trauma.
Young was transported to Baptist Memorial Hospital-Golden Triangle where she died in surgery around 11:45 p.m. Hamilton said the cause of death was massive trauma.
Both females were residents of the Sandland community in Noxubee County.
Gregory and Webb were not believed to be seriously injured.
Dame is originally from Michigan but was in Mississippi attending school at East Mississippi Community College. Hamilton said it is unclear if the two women were wearing their seat belts but said the vehicle did have its emergency flashers on.
The accident is still under investigation by the Mississippi Highway Patrol.
Sarah Fowler covered crime, education and community related events for The Dispatch.
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