A Copiah County man was one of three motorists killed on state highways during the Mississippi Highway Patrol’s Christmas holiday period, which ended Wednesday at midnight.

Erik G. Miller, 30, of Crystal Springs died Wednesday in a crash shortly after 8:30 p.m. Capt. Johnny Poulos with MHP said Miller was driving a Mercedes Benz passenger vehicle northbound on Hwy. 51.

According to media outlets, troopers say a preliminary report indicates the Mercedes tried to pass a Chevrolet Impala that was also traveling north. The sedan sideswiped the Chevrolet, causing Miller to lose control and hit a tree on the northbound shoulder.

Miller was pronounced dead at the scene.

Earlier that day, at approximately 1:25 p.m. MHP responded to a fatal traffic crash on Hwy. 178 in Lee County. A 2013 Chrysler passenger vehicle driven by Linda C. McMinn, 78, of Mooreville was traveling eastbound when the vehicle left the road and collided with a tree. She was pronounced dead at the scene.

In Hinds County Monday shortly before 1 a.m., John A. Lumbley, 24, of Vicksburg, was killed when his 2004 Mitsubishi Endeavor left the road, overturned and collided with a tree.

Lumbley was traveling north on Hwy. 27. He was also pronounced dead at the scene, Poulos said.

During the Christmas travel period, MHP issued 2,544 citations with 39 DUI arrests. Troopers investigated 116 motor vehicle crashes on state, federal highways and interstates, which included 27 injuries and the three fatalities. The MHP safety initiative “Home for the Holidays” will continue through the end of the year in order to promote traffic safety, Poulos said.