Mississippi contractor charged after driving into airmen on US base

A 24-year-old civilian contractor is facing two criminal charges in connection to an incident in which he allegedly drove a vehicle into four airmen, killing one and injuring three more.

According to the criminal complaint, just after 1 p.m. on Wednesday, Biloxi, Miss., resident Emmett J. Bennett was on the Keesler Air Force Base driving south on Ploesti Drive, an FBI spokesperson said in a news release. The complaint alleges that Bennett was driving at a fast rate, barely avoiding an incident with another car on the road.

Following the missed collision, Bennett allegedly rammed his vehicle into a light pole after crossing the northbound lane of Ploesti Drive. The criminal complaint said that following the episode, Bennett’s vehicle hit four airmen, injuring three and killing one.

Keesler Air Force Base identified the airman who died as Daniel J. Germenis. According to a news release, he had been assigned to the 336th Training Squadron at Keesler’s 81st Training Wing where he studied cyber systems operations.

“The Airmen of the 336th Training Squadron at Keesler Air Force Base are devastated by this tragedy,” Lt. Col. Ken Hirose, 336th TRS commander, said in a statement. “Daniel was a model Airman who was well-known throughout the organization for his enthusiasm and joyous spirit. He was a wingman to all of us and our thoughts are with his family.”

Carr said in his news release that Bennett has been charged with operation of a vehicle while impaired causing death and involuntary manslaughter. On Thursday, he appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert Myers in Gulfport, Miss.

“The FBI extends our deepest condolences to the family of the Airman who was killed in this tragedy,” Paul Brown, acting special agent in charge of the FBI’s Jackson Division, said in a statement. “Our thoughts are also with the three Airmen that were injured and the entire Keesler community.”

Carr noted that the investigation into the incident is ongoing and that the FBI Jackson Division’s Gulfport Resident Agency was investigating the matter along with several other federal and local groups. 

Updated: July 31 at 8:58 a.m.