Suspect Identified in Hit and Run on Hwy 43 in MHP/MBI report

For Immediate Release

November 17, 2020

Public Affairs Division

Mississippi Highway Patrol

Mississippi Bureau of Investigation

Pearl River County – On November 14, 2020, at approximately 7:09am, the Mississippi Highway Patrol investigated a fatal crash which occurred on Highway 43 near Burnt Bridge Road, in Pearl River County, claiming the life of two juveniles.

Upon arriving it appeared a 2014 GMC Terrain was traveling south when the GMC crashed into three juveniles that were walking in the southbound lane of Highway 43.

Two of the juveniles, 13-year-old Gavin Bennett and 17-year-old Brandon Heidel, were pronounced dead on scene. The other pedestrian, 16-year-old Brycen Bennett, was transported to Highland Community Hospital with minor injuries. The driver of the vehicle left the scene for over an hour.

The driver, 18-year-old Jarron Petties, returned to the scene and was taken into custody and charged with two counts of Felony Accident Leaving the Scene with Injury and Death.

MHP CRASH Reconstruction Team and MBI Special Agents, are gathering all relevant evidence and conducting interviews as part of this ongoing investigation. All investigative findings will be shared with the District Attorney’s office throughout the process for consideration and review.