Ronald Lechner was driving the wrong way—northbound in the southbound lanes—when his pickup truck collided head-on with Brittany Hodges’ vehicle just north of the Highway 67 and Highway 15 junction, a stretch of road that quickly turned into the site of a devastating double fatal crash Friday night.**According to investigators, the 61-year-old D’Iberville man was traveling against the flow of traffic for reasons still under investigation.
Witnesses reported seeing headlights approaching in the wrong direction moments before the impact, leaving southbound drivers with no time to react. Lechner was not wearing a seatbelt, and when the violent collision occurred, the force sent his truck flipping, ultimately landing overturned on the asphalt. He died at the scene before paramedics could attempt lifesaving measures.
In the second vehicle was 36-year-old Brittany Hodges of Ocean Springs, a mother, daughter, and friend to many who always made safety a priority—something reflected in the fact that she was properly restrained at the time of the crash. Her seatbelt likely saved her from immediate fatality, but the trauma was still catastrophic. Emergency responders rushed her to a nearby hospital,
fighting to keep her alive during the transport, but despite the efforts of medical teams, her injuries proved too severe. She passed away shortly afterward.Harrison County Coroner Brian Switzer confirmed both deaths late Friday night, noting the severity of the crash and the extensive work required by first responders to secure the scene, clear debris, and document evidence.
The Mississippi Highway Patrol is now working to determine why Lechner was traveling the wrong direction—whether impairment, confusion, or a medical issue was involved.The community is reeling from the sudden loss of two lives, left with grief, unanswered questions, and a stark reminder of how quickly tragedy can strike on familiar roads.
