Fatal wreck analysis nears end
Published 12:08 am Tuesday, April 8, 2014
NATCHEZ — Nearly a month after a two-vehicle collision that claimed the life of one 20-year-old, Mississippi Highway Patrol officials are completing an investigation into the wreck and have consulted with the district attorney on possible criminal charges.
Tyler Brumfield, 20, was killed in the March 9 wreck at the intersection of U.S. 61 South and Kingston Road and his girlfriend and passenger, Nikki Worthey, 20, is being treated in an outpatient rehabilitation clinic in Alexandria, La.
Mississippi Highway Patrol Troop M Sgt. Rusty Boyd said accident reconstruction officials were finishing their investigation into the wreck with the potential intent of handing over the evidence to the courts.
“They’ve been back and forth with the district attorney on what they have to see about possibly taking it to the grand jury,” Boyd said. “I don’t know what they have, but that’s what they’re doing now.”
Boyd said he didn’t know specific details regarding the results of the accident reconstruction officials’ investigation.
District Six District Attorney Ronnie Harper said he had been in contact with the reconstruction officials recently, but had yet to receive the full investigation.
“I told them that if they decide that there were some criminal charges there, they could go ahead and file it,” Harper said.
The district attorney also told the investigators another option included presenting the evidence to a grand jury.
“As soon as they finish the investigation, we can look at presenting it to the grand jury,” Harper said.
The next grand jury set for Adams County is scheduled in May.
Brumfield was driving a 2011 Nissan Sentra with Worthey in the passenger seat when Brumfield attempted to make a left turn onto Kingston Road.
Brumfield’s vehicle collided with a 2007 Toyota Avalon driven by Paula R. Campesi, 50, of Monroe, La., who was traveling northbound on U.S. 61.
Previously, Joel Minter of Calhoun, La., said he was traveling northbound on U.S. 61 alongside the Avalon as well as a Cadillac and witnessed the Avalon traveling without its headlights on.
Minter said he passed both vehicles and even attempted to flash his headlights to the Avalon in hopes of alerting the driver.
Minter eventually drove ahead of both vehicles and witnessed the collision in his rearview mirror.
In Minter’s opinion, Brumfield saw the Cadillac’s headlights, which was behind the Avalon, and didn’t realize the Avalon was there.
Minter said he reported all his observations to the highway troopers working the wreck.