Two people have died in a crash involving a bus transporting Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College’s “Band of Gold” along Highway 98 in Pike County. The Mississippi Highway Patrol reports that the accident occurred just a few miles west of the Pike County-Walthall County line around 5:30 p.m.
A 1997 Ford Ranger driven by 51-year-old Gregory Young of McComb was driving north on the Pike 93 cross-over of US-98 when it collided with a 2011 MCI Bus driven by 43-year-old Garry Grand of Ocean Springs, MS.
Gregory Young and his passenger, 46-year-old Brandy Simmons of Magnolia were killed in the crash and pronounced dead on scene.
The bus was headed to Summit, Mississippi, for Thursday night’s football game between MGCCC and Southwest Mississippi Community College. The band was notably absent during the opening of SMCC’s live broadcast of the game.
This crash remains under investigation by the Mississippi Highway Patrol.
