IUKA, Miss. (WTVA) -- The Mississippi Highway Patrol is investigating a fatal accident that claimed the life of an Iuka teenager.
According to authorities, David Edward Gist, 18, died Tuesday morning in a one vehicle accident about one mile south of Iuka on MS 25.
Investigators say Gist was traveling southbound, crossed the northbound lane and crashed into a ditch that was lined with rock at the intersection of CR 192 and MS 25.
Gist was pronounced dead at the scene.
The wreckage was discovered by a Tishomingo Co. Sheriff's Office deputy who was on patrol about 2:30 a.m.
Gist had just graduated from Tishomingo County High School in May.
Family members say he loved to hunt, fish and he was an avid Mississippi State Bulldogs fan.
His family also commended his strong-will.
"He did it his way, you know. He'd listen to you for a while, but in the end, he was going to do it his way. That's not a bad thing. We all have to start somewhere and like I said, where he was going, it couldn't have led to anything but good things for him," said his uncle, Brian Glover.
"He was the kind of guy that would take the shirt off his back, loved to hunt. That's what he was going to do. He was going home to sleep for a couple of hours before he went hunting and he went to sleep," said his brother, Raymond Gist.
Visitation is scheduled for 2:00 until 9:00 p.m. on Thursday, November 29th at Cutshall Funeral Home in Glen.
Funeral services are scheduled for 1:00 p.m. Friday afternoon at the Cutshall Funeral Home Chapel in Glen.
