Brandon Munoz, Santiago Giron-Rico Obituary, Death – Two teenagers have lost their lives, and a third has sustained serious injuries following an accident in DeSoto County near I-269. The incident occurred off I-269 close to the Laughter exit, where the truck carrying the teenagers veered off the interstate for unknown reasons and rolled over multiple times on Sunday night. The Mississippi Highway Patrol has identified the deceased as 17-year-old Brandon Munoz and 18-year-old Santiago Giron-Rico.
The 17-year-old driver remains in critical condition. A friend expressed the collective anticipation of graduation, stating, “We were all looking forward to graduating and walking that stage. They were very great, amazing people.” In an interview with WREG, a friend revealed that the group was returning home after celebrating Brandon Munoz’s 17th birthday.
“Brandon was a very joyful, energetic person who always loved to see everyone around him happy,” the friend remarked. “He had a unique ability to bring smiles to people’s faces.” In the wake of this tragic event, their families and friends are left to navigate their grief.
“At this moment, everyone is heartbroken but trying to remain strong,” the friend added. Another acquaintance mentioned that Santiago Giron-Rico had recently learned he was going to become a father. “He was overjoyed at the prospect of being a dad,” the friend noted. “The excitement on his face was truly something to behold.”
The investigation into the cause of the crash is ongoing, and this incident marks the second fatal accident involving Mississippi teenagers in recent weeks. Earlier this month, 16-year-old Tucker Rudd, a baseball player from DeSoto Central, tragically died in a crash within an Olive Branch neighborhood.
His mother described him as a dedicated and kind student who put forth great effort in all his endeavors. The circumstances surrounding that incident are also under investigation. Staff Sergeant Marvin Baird of the Mississippi Highway Patrol remarked that while all fatal accidents are challenging, those involving young individuals are particularly heart-wrenching.
“It takes a little more out of you because we have children; I have teenagers and young adults now, and losing a child is a different kind of pain,” Baird stated. “I tell people all the time.”
