A peaceful Saturday afternoon drive on Interstate 59 turned into a heartbreaking tragedy for a Gulfport family. Lisa D. Garrett, a 27-year-old mother from Gulfport, lost her life following a violent two-vehicle wreck in Jones County. The sudden loss has shattered her loved ones and left friends grieving a young life cut far too short.
It was around 3:18 p.m. on July 25, 2026, when Mississippi Highway Patrol state troopers rushed to the crash scene on I-59. Lisa was riding in a 2021 Nissan Rogue SUV alongside driver William L. Garrett Jr. and a 4-year-old girl. They were heading south down the highway when the unexpected collision occurred.
Another vehicle, a 2023 Ford Explorer SUV, was traveling southbound along the same stretch of road. For reasons state police are still working to determine, the two utility vehicles collided on the open highway. The heavy impact caused immediate damage and triggered a rapid emergency response.
First responders pulled up quickly to help everyone trapped in the wreckage. Emergency medical crews rushed Lisa Garrett to a nearby hospital for urgent care, but her injuries proved too severe. Doctors worked to save her, but she tragically passed away shortly after arriving at the facility.
William Garrett Jr., also 27 and from Gulfport, suffered injuries in the collision and was rushed to a local hospital. The 4-year-old girl riding with them was also hurt and transported for medical evaluation and treatment. Both remain in the thoughts of community members praying for their full recovery.
Miraculously, nobody inside the Ford Explorer was injured in the crash. The driver, 54-year-old Pamela A. Gill of New Orleans, walked away without physical harm. Her passengers, 84-year-old Hirschel T. Abbott Jr. and 79-year-old Mimi D. Abbott, both also from New Orleans, were reported uninjured as well.
Back home in Gulfport, news of Lisa’s death has hit relatives and friends immensely hard. Loved ones are holding each other close and leaning on community support during these heavy days. They remember her for the warmth and joy she brought to those around her.
Meanwhile, the Mississippi Highway Patrol is continuing its investigation into what caused the fatal crash. Troopers have not released additional details as officers work to gather facts and give Lisa’s grieving family the answers they deserve.
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