FAYETTE – Just shortly after one of the safest Christmas travel seasons in recent memory according to state officials, two Jefferson County residents died in a head-on collision on Miss. 28.

Ellen B. Smith, 56, of Church Hill, and Nelson Stallworth, 63, of Union Church, both died at the scene of the accident Wednesday morning in Jefferson County, said Jefferson County Sheriff Peter Walker.

Stallworth was driving east in a Ford pickup after 1 a.m. when he struck Smith who was driving west in a Plymouth van.

The vehicles appeared to strike each other in the westbound lane but the cause of the accident is undetermined.

&uot;We really don’t know what happened,&uot; Walker said. &uot;It’s still under investigation.&uot;

As a result of the collision, Stallworth’s vehicle landed crossways in the westbound lane and the van landed on it side, Walker said.

Smith was partially ejected from the vehicle, Walker said.

Smith was believed to have been traveling home from a holiday family gathering in Lincoln County but officials are not certain about Stallworth’s destination, Walker said.

Funeral arrangements for Stallworth are under the direction of Spencer Funeral Home.

Services for Smith are at 2 p.m., today at Laird Funeral Home Union Street Chapel.