3 troopers injured, 1 critical, in Miss. wrecks

JACKSON, Miss. — Three troopers were injured in related Sunday afternoon wrecks, officials said.

Mississippi Highway Patrol spokesman Cpl. Brandon Fortenberry said a trooper had a wreck on Interstate 55 near Bogue Chitto, 31 miles north of the Louisiana border.

Another trooper who was assisting with the accident wrecked shortly afterward on U.S. 84 near U.S. 51, Fortenberry said.

A third trooper also responding to help with the first incident then had a wreck on 84 near Jackson-Liberty Road.

There were heavy rains in the Lincoln County area all Sunday afternoon. Responders said they called for a helicopter to fly the critically injured trooper from the first accident to Jackson, but the weather prohibited flight. He was transported to the University of Mississippi Medical Center by ambulance instead.

The other two troopers were injured, but the extent of their injuries was unknown.

Sheriff Steve Rushing said the first wreck happened around 4:25 p.m. CT. He said his agency was assisting, but that MHP was handling the accidents.

Follow Therese Apel on Twitter: @TRex21