A 41-year-old Starkville resident was pronounced dead shortly before 1 a.m. Saturday after he was struck by a car on Sessums Road in western Lowndes County.
Lowndes County Coroner Greg Merchant pronounced Edward Renard Williams dead on the scene after the victim was struck by the vehicle near the Lowndes-Oktibbeha county line.
“At about 12 midnight, a car carrying the victim and traveling east on Sessums Road pulled over and the occupants got out for some reason,” Merchant explained. “The victim was in the westbound lane when another vehicle traveling east saw the car pulled over and moved into the westbound lane to avoid it.”
When the second vehicle swerved into the westbound lane, it struck Williams and killed him, Merchant said.
“The driver of the second vehicle said she didn”t see the victim until right before she hit him,” Merchant said. “Nobody on the scene had a cell phone, so the driver of the second vehicle drove into Artesia and called authorities and then returned to the scene.
“I pronounced the victim dead close to 1 a.m. Saturday morning right when I got on the scene,” Merchant added. “An autopsy has been scheduled for tomorrow in Jackson.”
Further details of the incident are pending a Lowndes County Sheriff”s Department investigation, Merchant said. However, as of Saturday no criminal charges were filed against the driver who struck Williams.
The Dispatch Editorial Board is made up of publisher Peter Imes, columnist Slim Smith, managing editor Zack Plair and senior newsroom staff.
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