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FERRIDAY, La. — A Louisiana State Police Troop E spokesman said a Ferriday man ran a stop sign while fleeing a Concordia Parish Sheriff’s Office deputy on Monday evening and collided head-on with two other drivers, causing fatal injury to one.

LSP arrested 29-year-old Ben Ceasor and charged him with aggravated flight for an officer (two counts), felony hit and run (two counts), vehicular homicide, vehicular negligent injury (two counts), resisting an officer by providing false information, stop sign violation and felon in possession of a firearm.

The deceased has been identified as 44-year-old Jason Tyson, the third-generation owner of the popular Donut Shop in Natchez.

Casey Wallace, spokesman for Louisiana State Police Troop E, said CPSO asked LSP to respond to the crash.

“The initial investigation revealed that 29-year-old Ben Ceasor, of Ferriday, driving a 2004 Ford Crown Victoria, was wanted by Tensas Parish Sheriff’s Office for aggravated assault with a firearm,” Wallace said. “A CPSO deputy identified and conducted a traffic stop with Ceasor at EE Wallace Road and Texas Avenue. For reasons still under investigation, Ceasor fled the initial traffic stop, ran the stop sign at U.S. Highway 425 and collided head-on with a 2017 Ford F250 and a 2020 Ford F150.”

The unnamed driver of the Ford F250 and a juvenile passenger both wore seatbelts and sustained moderate injuries. They were transported to a local hospital.

Tyson, who was the driver of the Ford F150, who was also restrained, received fatal injuries and was pronounced deceased on the scene.

This crash remains under investigation, Wallace said.

Tyson and his family have continued to run the Donut Shop since 2014 after he inherited the business from his late stepfather, the “Donut Man” George Scott and his mother Mary Tyson Scott. The couple had run The Donut Shop since 1991 when they bought it from Mary’s aunt and uncle, Dot and Junior Price.

Jason Tyson successfully opened a second Donut Shop in Gulfport in April 2022.

Jerry’s Donut Shop, located across the river in Vidalia, shared condolences to the Tyson family on its social media page.

“Everyone please be in prayer for the families of Jason Tyson. I can only say I have the utmost respect for the man he was to us in the donut world and just in general, a great guy! Always helpful. Always. He was our friend and never disappointed. Time is a thief! His presence on earth will surely be missed by many.”