JACKSON, Miss. — A tragic incident has occurred involving a football player from Mississippi Valley State University, who lost his life after being involved in a police pursuit. Authorities reported that 20-year-old Ryan Quinney from Mobile, Alabama, was killed when the car he was a passenger in crashed while attempting to evade the Mississippi Highway Patrol. The accident happened on Friday, as confirmed by Yazoo County Coroner Ricky Shivers on Monday.

The police chase initiated in Flora and progressed into Yazoo City, where the driver reportedly lost control of the vehicle. According to WAPT-TV, the car veered off the road, traversed through a ditch, and collided with a parked car before becoming airborne. It subsequently struck a light pole and flipped multiple times before finally coming to a stop in a residential lawn, as described by Shivers.

Rescue efforts for the injured driver, whose identity has not been disclosed, involved the use of a Jaws of Life tool. The driver was airlifted to the University of Mississippi Medical Center; however, their current health status has yet to be provided. Quinney, a junior linebacker, was declared dead at the scene of the accident.

In a Facebook message shared on Saturday, the university expressed their sympathies to Quinney’s family and friends. “Ryan was a bright light in our community with a spirit that lifted everyone around him. He will be deeply missed by his friends, faculty, and all who knew him,” the institution stated. They further extended their heartfelt condolences during this difficult period to the family and loved ones of Quinney.

As of now, the Mississippi Highway Patrol has not responded to inquiries regarding the circumstances that led to the police chase. Yazoo City is located approximately 50 miles (80 kilometers) north of Jackson.