Five Children Die in Mississippi DUI Car Crash

It is a sad New Year for the Mississippi Choctaw Indian community. Five siblings were killed after an accident in Neshoba County. Their father was at the wheel.

Duane John, 34, has been charged with six counts of DUI manslaughter after causing the fatal Mississippi car accident at about 12:35 a.m. on Saturday, December 29, 2012.

John was driving a Dodge Durango SUVon a country road about 20 miles southeast of Philadelphia, Mississippi. He lost control of his vehicle and spun off the road and into a rain-swollen creek. The car sank ten feet under water. There were nine people in the five-passenger vehicle. No one was wearing a seat belt.

Five children and one adult died in the crash:

• 38-year-old Dianne Chickaway
• 9-year-old Daisyanna John
• 8-year-old Duane John
• 7-year-old Bobby John
• 4-year-old Quinton John
• 18-month-old Kekambas John

A dive team from a local fire department had to retrieve the bodies. All victims were members of the Mississippi Choctaw Indians and lived in the Pearl River community.

Survivors include the mother of the children, Deanna Jim; driver, Duane John; and the husband of Mrs. Chickaway, Dale Chickaway. All three were taken to Neshoba County General Hospital for treatment of hypothermia and water inhalation.

The accident remains under investigation as officials reconstruct the accident scene and await results of the toxicology report. Police believe the crash was alcohol-related.

John was arrested after his release from the hospital and remains at the Neshoba County jail where bail is set at $150,000.

Our Memphis auto accident attorneys offer our condolences to all affected by this tragic accident.