[7/22/04]A Madison man has been charged with vehicular manslaughter in a Vicksburg woman’s death in a wreck near Edwards Wednesday morning.

Kenneth Barden III, 25, 428 Church St., remained at the Hinds County Detention Center this morning after refusing a blood test Wednesday morning to determine if he was intoxicated when his pickup hit a sport-utility vehicle driven by Mildred G. Davis, 57, 107 Maria Drive.

Barden was also charged with DUI refusal, a misdemeanor. Mississippi Highway Patrol spokesman James Walker said state law requires anyone who refuses a blood test to be arrested.

Barden is being held on a $50,000 bond for the vehicular manslaughter charge and a $1,000 bond for the DUI refusal charge.

Mrs. Davis was headed to her job in downtown Jackson at about 7:15 when her 1997 Toyota 4-Runner was hit from behind by a 1988 Ford Ranger driven by Barden, Walker said. The wreck was about a mile west of the Edwards exit off Interstate 20.

Mrs. Davis’ car hit the guardrail, then flipped several times before stopping in the median, Walker said.

She was pronounced dead at the scene shortly after 7:30 a.m. by Hinds County Coroner Sharon Grisham-Stewart.

Barden was not injured in the accident.

Mrs. Davis was a paralegal for Jackson attorney Don Evans.

“She was an extremely good employee. She had a good personality,” Evans said. “People around the office really liked her.”

Mrs. Davis handled pleadings and interviews for Evans. She had worked at the law firm for five months, Evans said.

Mrs. Davis was one of two Vicksburg residents who died in accidents in a 12-hour period Tuesday and Wednesday.

The first was Pablo Quiroz Hernandez, 23, 3577 U.S. 61 South Lot 32, who drowned near LeTourneau Landing after saving 11-year-old Kelsei Horn, who had fallen into the Mississippi River.

An autopsy scheduled for Wednesday night at Mississippi Mortuary in Pearl was delayed and was expected to be performed tonight, said Warren County Deputy Coroner Larry Chisley.