Head-on crash backed up traffic for hours on the Natchez Trace in Ridgeland

Two people were taken to the hospital and traffic was backed up for hours after a head-on collision on the Natchez Trace Tuesday morning. 

According to Natchez Trace Chief Ranger Sarah Davis, the crash occurred about 7:15 a.m. at mile marker 96.4 after one vehicle attempted to pass another. The vehicle who attempted to pass was not involved in the accident. 

Rangers and officers with the Ridgeland Police Department responded to the scene, Davis said. 

Traffic was backup in both directions until about 9 a.m when the southbound lane was opened. Drivers who got onto the Parkway from 155 or U.S. 49 would have been stuck in traffic, Davis said. 

One lane is currently open. Mississippi Department of Transportation said the northbound lane was expected to open about 9:40 Tuesday morning. 

The parkway was designed for "recreation use" for 2,000 cars a day. Instead, Davis said, "it's used by people to get from Point A to Point B as fast as they can."

The Trace averages between 10,000 and 15,000 cars per day in some parts, Davis said.