COPIAH COUNTY, Miss. — A fatal crash scene in Copiah County escalated into chaos when volunteer firefighters were assaulted while responding to the scene, according to police.
An angry crowd of 200 to 300 people gathered at the intersection of Lilly and Allen Roads on Aug. 3, assaulting the firefighters and forcing them to abandon their equipment and retreat. WLBT reported that authorities are now searching for those responsible.
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“They were in the process of using the Jaws of Life,” Copiah County Emergency Management Director Darryl Hilliard said. “Firefighters had to leave some equipment.”
Four volunteer firefighters were injured during rescue efforts, including one who was hospitalized after being slammed to the ground. Others reported being pushed or struck by debris.
The crowd reportedly turned on firefighters due to response time, though officials noted they had to come from home and gather equipment before responding.
“People have to understand that we work with volunteers,” Hillard said. “These are guys that don’t get paid to do this, and, whatever happened, they should not be treated as such.”
The area is known for drag racing, WLBT reports.
