Jones County woman still missing after escaping crash

Lina Portman4 weeks ago

0 2 minutes read

From the Jones County Sheriff's Department Public Information Office

JONES COUNTY, Miss. (WDAM) – A Jones County woman who escaped a crash early Friday morning is still missing.

The Jones County Sheriff's Office said the search for Samantha Elisabeth McCowan, 32, extended late into Friday night, with no sightings or other leads leading to her disappearance following the single-vehicle crash on Victory Road around 1 a.m. Friday.

Active ground and aerial searches, involving personnel from more than 50 emergency services from various agencies throughout Jones County, have been suspended pending additional information that would necessitate resumption of these operations.

The JCSD said McCowan was listed as a missing person with the Federal Bureau of Investigation's National Crime Information Center, making her status known to law enforcement agencies nationwide.

The JCSD said McCowan, 32, was involved in a motor vehicle accident around 1 a.m. Friday on Victory Road near Mississippi 184 in the community of Powers.

After striking a Mississippi Power Company pole with her vehicle, knocking out power to parts of the Powers community, McCowan was seen leaving the scene on foot, the JCSD said.

Since then, we haven't heard from her.

The JCSD said McCowan was last seen near Mississippi 184 and U.S. 84 east in the early hours of Friday.

McCowan's cell phone was found in her crashed vehicle and it was believed she had no means of electronic communication when she left the scene of the crash.

McCowan, who resides in eastern Jones County, was described by the JCSD as a white female, approximately 5 feet 6 inches tall, weighing approximately 160 pounds and having light brown hair.

JCSD said McCowan sported a tattoo on his right leg from hip to knee, a dragon tattoo on his left hip and a tattoo on the back of his neck.

She was last seen on security camera video near the crash site, wearing a lime green shirt, black and white shorts and a hoodie of unknown color.

Friday's searches included areas on and along Victory Road, where the car crash involving McCowan occurred, Mississippi 184, U.S. 84 east and numerous secondary roads in the area.

Agencies involved in the research included the JCSD; Jones County Emergency Management Agency; Jones County Emergency Operations Center; Jones County Search and Rescue Team; and the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency.

The department's update also said search drones were deployed to the area through Friday evening.

Fire and rescue units from the Powers and M&M Volunteer Fire Departments first responded to the accident scene early Friday morning, along with EMSServ ambulance service.

The JCSD said Mississippi Power Company crews worked until about 8 a.m. Friday to replace the broken three-phase utility pole and restore power to the area.

Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Samantha Elisabeth McCowan is asked to call the Jones County Sheriff's Department at (601) 425-3147 or Jones County Crime Stoppers at (601) 428-STOP (7867).

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