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David Nix

Age : 51

Gender : Male

Race : White

Date : 08/28/2023

Location : Stafford Wells Road

City : Winona

County : Montgomery

State : Mississippi

Agency : Mississippi Highway Patrol

Officer(s) :Patrick Mitchell

Cause of Death : Vehicle

Event : Driver killed by police chase crash after traffic stop for speeding

OPEN RECORDS SUMMARY :

On 08/28/2023, at approximately 7:30 p.m., Winona Police Officer Patrick Mitchell stopped David Nix, 51, while Nix was driving a four-wheeler in Winona. Mayor Aaron Dees said the specific initiating reason for the traffic stop was that Nix was allegedly speeding on the highway.
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According to Dees, Mitchell approached Nix during the traffic stop and suspected that alcohol might be involved. Mitchell returned to his patrol vehicle to retrieve a breathalyzer. While the officer was doing so, Nix drove away on the ATV.
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Mitchell followed Nix down Stafford Wells Road near the Winona-Montgomery County Airport, beginning what the Mississippi Highway Patrol subsequently described as a brief police pursuit.
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During the pursuit, Nix's four-wheeler and Mitchell's 2016 Dodge Charger police vehicle collided on Stafford Wells Road. Mississippi Highway Patrol subsequently confirmed that Mitchell was driving the vehicle involved in the collision and that Nix suffered fatal injuries in the crash.
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Nix's cousin, David Oswald, witnessed the encounter from his home and gave an account substantially more serious than the initial official description of an ATV crash. Oswald said he watched Mitchell's police vehicle strike Nix's four-wheeler from behind. According to Oswald, the officer struck the ATV from the rear twice before Nix crashed farther down the road.
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Oswald also disputed the suggestion that Nix had been drinking. He said he had been with Nix throughout the day and maintained that Nix had not consumed alcohol.
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The Mississippi Highway Patrol investigated the fatal collision. MHP publicly confirmed that the police vehicle and ATV collided but did not initially determine or disclose precisely how the collision occurred. Winona Police Chief Roshaun Daniels declined to discuss the circumstances while the MHP investigation was underway.
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Following Nix's death, Winona Mayor Aaron Dees said Officer Mitchell was asked to take several days off. Mitchell was not formally placed on administrative leave while the investigation continued.
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Nix left behind an 18-year-old son and a 16-year-old daughter.
OFFICER BACKGROUND:
Patrick Mitchell was the Winona Police Department officer who initiated the traffic stop, pursued Nix and was driving the 2016 Dodge Charger that collided with Nix's four-wheeler. The Mississippi Highway Patrol specifically identified Mitchell by name in its subsequent account of the fatal crash.
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Mitchell was asked by the mayor to take several days off following Nix's death but was not formally placed on administrative leave.

SOURCE LINKS :

https://www.wtva.com/video/man-dies-after-atv-crash-during-police-chase-in-winona/video_5e7c3863-e81f-5f9a-9d98-5018dd0045e5.html
https://www.wtva.com/news/man-dies-after-atv-crash-during-police-chase/article_49506936-4613-11ee-9404-f3f6f7f8bffc.html
https://www.wlbt.com/2023/08/30/mississippi-man-killed-while-running-police-four-wheeler-family-says/
https://www.wcbi.com/fatal-atv-accident-mhp-continues-to-investigate-in-montgomery-county/
https://www.wcbi.com/mhp-releases-more-details-about-deadly-atv-crash-in-montgomery-county/