Authorities believe the pedestrian who died after being struck by a vehicle on Highway 51 near Chatawa early Saturday morning is a California man.
Mississippi Highway Patrol spokesman Cpl. Brandon Fortenberry said the victim’s belongings found at the scene were those of Joshua Travis Bailey, a 34-year-old white male from Prather, Calif.
Fortenberry said Bailey’s girlfriend Tracy Kirkland confirmed the identification based on evidence found at the scene.
Officials are still searching for the driver who struck Bailey.
“We went to the site and found some of his belongings,” said Trudy Armfield, Kirkland’s mother. “We haven’t seen the body but we’re positive it was him.”
Fortenberry said authorities hope to make a positive identification today.
Armfield said her daughter and Bailey had been living at her home. The two recently moved from California to Mississippi and were headed to Arkansas to find work, she said.
Armfield said Bailey left her home on Price Street in Magnolia on Friday night.
“He said he was going to be a man and left with all of his belongings,” she said.
Armfield said she believes Bailey intended to walk to McComb but went the wrong way.
“He has no sense of direction and he didn’t know anyone here,” she said.
Armfield said Bailey was found eight miles from her home.
“We’ve been trying to pinpoint exactly what time he left. I think it was between 10:15 and 10:30,” she said. “Maybe he walked and then he sat for a while and walked some more.”
The accident was reported to the Mississippi Highway Patrol around 12:30 a.m. Saturday.
Bailey’s body has been sent to the Mississippi Crime Lab for an autopsy.
Armfield said her family has contacted Bailey’s mother in California.
