A Vicksburg woman was killed Saturday afternoon when the car in which she was a passenger struck a light pole at the intersection of Clay Street and Old Highway 27.

Vicksburg police officer Leonce Young said Bernice Craig, 83, 711 New Orleans Ave., was a passenger in a car driven by her daughter, Betty Brown, 66, also of 711 New Orleans Ave. Craig was pronounced dead at the scene by Warren County Coroner Doug Huskey. Both women were wearing seat belts, Young said.

The wreck occurred about 3:40 p.m. across the street from the entrance to the Vicksburg National Military Park. According to witnesses, Young said, Brown was pulling into the right turn lane on Clay Street to turn onto Old Highway 27, when the car suddenly sped up and hit the pole.

“From the witnesses’ accounts, it appears Mrs. Brown was trying to step on the brake and accidentally hit the accelerator, causing the car to speed up,” Young said.