Texting blamed in fatal wreck by musician on way to city

Published 12:00 am Monday, December 28, 2009

A musician driving from Leland to perform in Vicksburg was killed in a one-car wreck Saturday while using his phone to send a text message, the Washington County coroner said.

David Paul Burchfield, 32, died at 5:53 p.m. after he made a sudden turn in his Chevrolet Blazer in a curve in the 2500 block of Old Highway 61, Methel Johnson said.

A passenger, Teron Ayers of Holly Springs, told officials the driver was texting when he lost control of the vehicle, causing it to flip, Johnson said.

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She said Burchfield was suffocated while being pinned under the vehicle.

Burchfield, a musician with Electric Mudd of Cleveland, was traveling to Vicksburg for a performance at The Upper End Lounge, 1306 Washington St., at the time of the accident, she said.

Ayers was treated at Delta Regional Medical Center in Greenville for an arm injury and released, Johnson said.

Burchfield was survived by his wife of Leland and family in Cleveland.