Jones County man killed in one-vehicle accident in Jones County

Jones County - Wednesday morning a one-vehicle accident on Highway 15 South near Ovett claimed the life of a 64-year old Jones County man.

At 8:51 a.m., emergency medical responders and rescue units from Glade, Powers, and Ovett Volunteer Fire Department responded to the report of a one-vehicle accident with entrapment on Highway 15 South near Crowder Road. Upon arrival firefighters found where an older model red Ford Tow Truck pulling a 16-foot utility trailer, had plowed head-on into a tree, and a limb from one tree had fallen across the highway blocking both lanes. Both driver and passenger were trapped inside the entangled vehicle.

The extrication process to remove the passenger from the vehicle took 41 minutes to complete. A landing zone was established on the highway near the accident scene.

The driver, 64-year old Douglas L. Mansley of Jones County was pronounced dead at the scene by Jones County Coroner Nancy Barnett. The passenger, Mansley’s step-daughter 24-year old Veronica Davis, was airlifted from the scene by Ochsner Flight Care Rescue 7 helicopter to Forrest General Hospital with what was believed to be serious and life-threatening injuries.

The cause of the accident remains under investigation by the Mississippi Highway Patrol.

Also responding to the accident were Jones County Fire Coordinator Dan McKenna, Jones County Sheriff’s Department, and Investigator Wayne Black with the Jones County District Attorney’s Office.

Story & photos by Linda Cranford, Jones County Fire Service PIO