VIDALIA — Two people were transported to a local hospital following an accident on the eastbound Mississippi River bridge Tuesday morning.

Khedra Taylor, 23, was crossing the bridge when the 2000 Mazda 626 she was driving drifted to the left and collided with the guardrail, Vidalia Police Chief Ronnie G. “Tapper” Hendricks said.

Taylor was reportedly using a mobile phone at the time of the accident, he said.

When the vehicle collided with the left guardrail, the driver jerked the vehicle to the right, veering across the bridge and striking the right guard rail with enough force to deploy the protective airbags, Hendricks said.

The vehicle’s passenger, a 7-year-old juvenile, was not wearing a restraint and the force of the deploying airbag knocked out four of the passenger’s teeth. Taylor sustained a broken ankle, Hendricks said.

Both were transported to Natchez Regional Medical Center for treatment and later released.

The driver was cited for careless operation and child restraint violation.