LUCIEN –A Meadville woman died Wednesday afternoon on U.S. 84 in Franklin County when her car crossed the highway’s center line and hit another car head-on.

Mary Bowlin, 79, died instantly when her 1990 Chrysler struck a 1991 Chevrolet Lumina being driven by Kendrick Esters, 20, according to the Mississippi Highway Patrol. The accident happened just before 2 p.m. 1 1/2 miles west of Lucien.

Esters sustained severe injuries, including several broken bones, and was in stable but guarded condition at King’s Daughters Medical Center in Brookhaven as of Wednesday evening. Both cars were totaled.

Because the accident is still under investigation by the Highway Patrol, the accident’s cause and the speed at which the vehicles were thought to be traveling were undetermined as of Wednesday.

Bowlin worked as a columnist for the Franklin Advocate, Franklin County’s weekly newspaper.