Community in shock after deadly Halloween hayride wreck

NEWTON COUNTY, MS (Mississippi News Now) - Three people are dead and seven others are recovering from a hayride gone wrong in Newton County, Mississippi.

A Ford F-150 rear-ended a jeep pulling a trailer full of children trick-or-treating in Chunky.

"You look back and you say, 'God is a good God', but you just don't understand why something like this might have happened" said Donald Jones, who saw the family of hay riders just before the accident.  "They pulled up here in the driveway, and my wife keeps up with how many trick-or-treaters we got and she was 'ooing' and 'ahhing' about how cute they were."

33-year-old Kristina Shaver and two of her daughters, 8-year-old Baylie and 2-year old Brooke were killed in the crash.

"I think this to be the most catastrophic thing to happen in the small town of Chunky," said Jane Brann, who knew one of the people involved in the crash very well. "Nothing like this has ever happened before."

Seven others, including Kristina's sister Melissa, were brought to hospitals in Jackson and Meridian.

"I do not have an update as to their condition, but when they left they were in serious condition," explained Andy West with the Mississippi Highway Patrol.

Both Kristina and Melissa's husbands died recently. Kristina's only surviving daughter, McKensey, is in the hospital in critical condition.

8-year-old Baylie Shaver went to Newton County Elementary School, which is now providing counseling for students.

"I've spoken with a number of classes this morning," said Jason Roberson, principal of Newton County Elementary. "There's been some questions asked and we've addressed those. I would say they're dealing with it as well as can be expected at this point."

The driver of the Jeep that was pulling the trailer, 58-year-old Terry Smith, was not injured. The driver of the Ford F-150 that ran into the back of the trailer was also unharmed.

He has been identified as 20-year-old Chase Cook from Decatur.

The Mississippi Highway Patrol is still investigating the crash and they're not sure what exactly led to the accident.

There will be a vigil held Wednesday at 6:45 p.m. at Chunky Baptist Church.

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