One reported dead, three injured in accident on bridge

Published 11:11 am Saturday, December 15, 2012

Submitted photo — Emergency responders and police were on the scene of a bridge accident this morning.

VIDALIA — A Catahoula Parish woman was killed and three people were injured a two-vehicle accident on the Mississippi River bridge this morning.

The bridge from Natchez to Vidalia was closed this morning during the Jingle All the Way 5K, and two-way traffic was diverted to the other bridge. Officers from Vidalia and Natchez were stationed at each end of the bridge directing traffic.

Vidalia Police Chief Arthur Lewis said in an e-mailed statement that witnesses reported a green Mercury SUV was traveling west at approximately 8:40 a.m. when a red Mazda car traveling east veered into the west-bound lane and hit the SUV head-on.

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The driver of the Mazda, Kerry Davis Byargeon, 36, was taken to Natchez Regional Medical Center, where she later died.

The driver of the SUV, Pete Taylor, 66, of Natchez, was airlifted to the Rapides Regional Medical Center. Taylor was in stable condition as of 6:30 p.m.

Two juveniles were taken to NRMC and then transported to University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson with non-life threatening injuries. The juveniles were also in stable condition as of 6:30 p.m.

Lewis said Louisiana State Patrol, the Concordia Parish Sheriff’s Office, the Natchez Police Department and Natchez and Vidalia fire departments assisted his department after the accident.