Gulfport Man Charged in Deadly Wrong-Way DUI Crash That Injured Child

GULFPORT, Miss. (BuzzReport) — A late-night crash on Highway 49 has left one woman dead and a young child critically injured, leading to serious felony charges against a Gulfport man, authorities said.

The Gulfport Police Department announced that Kymanni King, 39, of Gulfport, was arrested on January 27, 2026, and charged with Aggravated DUI Resulting in Death and DUI Causing Serious Bodily Injury to a Child.

The charges stem from a devastating collision that occurred just before midnight on January 26, 2026. At approximately 11:59 p.m., Gulfport officers were dispatched to Highway 49 near 34th Street after receiving reports of a crash with injuries.

When officers arrived, they discovered an adult female deceased inside one of the vehicles involved. A small child was also found inside the same vehicle, suffering from severe injuries. Emergency responders arranged for the child to be airlifted to an out-of-state hospital, where the child remains under medical care.

According to investigators, King was driving northbound in the southbound lanes of Highway 49 after crossing the median when his vehicle collided head-on with the victim’s car. Officers at the scene obtained a breath sample from King, which indicated a positive result for alcohol, police said.

King was taken into custody and transported to the Harrison County Adult Detention Center, where he remains held on a $750,000 bond set by Judge Fountain.

The crash remains under investigation. Authorities have not yet released the name of the deceased pending notification of family members.