Over the Fourth of July weekend, the Mississippi Highway Patrol investigated six fatalities and 75 injuries on state and federal highways and interstates.

The holiday enforcement period began Friday at 6 p.m. and concluded Monday at midnight.

One of the fatalities was in Pike County, which is one of nine counties in District 9, which is covered by Troop M of the MHP. Troop M’s District 9 also includes Lincoln, Lawrence, Franklin, Walthall, Jefferson, Adams, Amite and Wilkinson counties.

A pedestrian on Hwy. 44 east of Cole Thomas Road was killed Saturday around 3:20 a.m. in a one-vehicle accident, said Troop M spokesman Cpl. Brandon Fortenberry.

The man, whose identification is being withheld pending notification of family, was walking east on Hwy. 44 in the lane of traffic. A vehicle, also traveling east on the highway, struck the pedestrian, who was pronounced dead on the scene by the Pike County coroner.

The accident remains under investigation by the MHP.

Other fatal accidents in the state occurred in Neshoba, Quitman, Lauderdale and Panola counties.

Troopers issued 7,877 citations with 182 DUI arrests statewide, said Capt. Johnny Poulos, director of the public affairs division of the MHP.

A total of 131 crashes were investigated, he said. A total of 444 seatbelt citations were issued along with 71 child restraint violations.

“All available troopers were utilized statewide during the period conducting saturation patrols and safety checkpoints,” he said.

In Troop M, MHP issued citations for 13 DUIs and made four drug arrests and one felony arrest, Poulos said.

MHP investigated 12 collisions in the nine counties of Troop M which resulted in five injuries and one fatality.

None of the collisions involved alcohol, he said.

Troopers issued 130 traffic citations for moving violations and 36 non-hazard violations, such as drivers without proof of insurance and suspended license.

“Across the state, there were 131 collisions investigated and six fatal collisions,” Fortenberry said. There were four alcohol-related accidents, which none of them were involved in District 9 (Troop M).”

Fortenberry said statistics for the holiday weekend in District 9 were low, but unfortunately did include a fatality.

“The space for improving is very small, but in that one family’s life, the space is very big,” he said.

He urged drivers to be more aware behind the wheel so law enforcement officers won’t need to deliver bad news to victims’ families. “Continue to be vigilant of your surroundings as you drive on your every day travels,” he said. “And continue to help law enforcement ‘Stop the Knock.’”