Car flees police at high speeds before wrecking on 98
A car that fled a roadblock in Columbia Tuesday night careened off U.S. 98 near Kokomo during a high-speed chase, killing two passengers.
A Marion County sheriff’s deputy was also treated and released with injuries and his patrol car totaled.
Dead are Damian Swarptue, 26, of Hattiesburg, who grew up in Marion County, and Lacurtis Floyd, 22, of McComb.
The driver, Kevin Allen, 40, of Jackson, and another passenger, Tykevious Durr, 20, of Hattiesburg, were injured. Allen remained in the hospital Thursday.
The Mississippi Highway Patrol is investigating the crash, and an investigation is also being conducted by the Marion County Sheriff’s Office. Chief Deputy Jamie Singley said Thursday they’re still working on it.
Tuesday night, the chase started when a red 2013 Chevrolet fled a roadblock by Columbia police near South High School Avenue around 8:30 to 8:45. It was driving recklessly and turned around to flee westbound on 98, according to a news release issued jointly by the Columbia Police Department and Marion County Sheriff’s Office.
Police followed the car, and a Marion County deputy joined the pursuit. It continued at high speeds some six miles as officers attempted to get in front of the car and clear a safe pathway for the pursuit, the release said. As the deputy attempted to pass the car, the Chevrolet swerved and struck the patrol car, which caused both to lose control and crash, according to the release.
The Chevrolet flew off the highway, over a low spot and into a dense thicket east of C&S Road between Foxworth and Kokomo. The mangled vehicle was propped up against a tree and was so deep in the woods that towing crews had to cut down limbs and even a tree with a chainsaw to clear a path to pull it out with a winch.
Investigators found multiple guns inside the car that appeared to have been fired recently, according to the news release. Those firearms will be sent to the Mississippi Crime Lab for testing. Drug paraphernalia was also found inside the car, authorities said.
Swarptue, a passenger, was pronounced dead at the scene. Floyd was transported by AAA ambulance to Forrest General Hospital, where he died.
The deputy’s car crashed further west down 98 and was taken by ambulance to the hospital. His name has not been released.
Scores of first responders gathered at the scene. Volunteer fire crews blocked westbound traffic about a mile and a half away from the wreck, rerouting cars around back roads to Kokomo Road, and multiple troopers, police officers and deputies investigated.
Around 11:30, hours after the crash, a group of them began running down the highway toward a grassy spot on the side of a hill and gathered in a circle. A few minutes later, a trooper led Durr, who was one of the passengers, down the hill to a waiting ambulance. Durr was taken to Forrest General Hospital and said to have “moderate” injuries.
Durr and Floyd, one of those killed, had been arrested in March in Hattiesburg after police seized methamphetamine, digital scales and two weapons, one of which was stolen, from an apartment on Ellis Drive, according to a news release Hattiesburg police issued in March. Durr was charged then with possession of a stolen firearm and Floyd with possession of a firearm by a felon.
Floyd was on parole for convictions for drug possession and vehicle burglaries in Lamar County, according to Mississippi Department of Corrections records.
On Facebook Wednesday morning, Swarptue’s mother, Rolanda Swarptue, asked for prayers for the family.
“My heart is hurting so bad,” she said in her post. “He always keep me smiling. He took me out for my birthday. He always do that for his mama. I love you forever Damian Dupree Swarptue, Your beautiful smile will be missed. Rest in my peace my dear son.”
Pictured Above: A Highway Patrolman leads Tykevious Durr, 20, to an ambulance after a crash that claimed the lives of two other passengers. Durr had hid in the woods for several hours after the wreck. | Photo by Charlie Smith
