Starkville officer remains in critical condition after collision during funeral escort

STARKVILLE, Mississippi — A Starkville police motorcycle officer remains in critical condition after a collision during a funeral procession escort on Saturday, Feb. 21, the department said.

The Starkville Police Department said in a news release the crash occurred at 1:43 p.m. when the department motorcycle and another vehicle, which was not part of the procession, collided. The officer sustained serious injuries and was flown to a medical facility in Jackson for further treatment.

The release said the driver of the other vehicle remained at the scene and declined medical treatment. The department’s Accident Reconstruction Team will perform a full reconstruction, and the collision remains under investigation, the release said.

In an update posted Feb. 23, the Starkville Police Department thanked the community for support, prayers and encouragement for the injured officer, the officer’s family and the department, and asked that people continue to keep them in their thoughts. This is a developing story and will be updated as more details emerge.