A 45‑year‑old Mississippi man stands accused of killing a 56‑year‑old woman after allegedly striking her with his vehicle while she carried groceries home, then fleeing the scene.
Authorities say they arrested Patrick Imafidon and charged him with one count of culpable‑negligence manslaughter and one count of felony hit‑and‑run resulting in Pamela Ellis’s death.
The Jackson Police Department’s press release reports that a white GMC Yukon hit Ellis around 11:30 p.m. on Sept. 5 near North State Street and Briarwood Drive in Jackson. Police noted the car struck her “as she was walking home with her groceries.”
Investigators secured surveillance footage from a nearby business that appears to show a Yukon at the moment of the crash. Additional security video from another shop captured the same Yukon with severe front‑end damage and “what appeared to be white Styrofoam plates in the grill of the vehicle.”
Police also discovered similar material at the site where Ellis was struck.
After initial attempts to locate the driver and the SUV fell short, investigators appealed to the public for assistance. Tips and shared requests helped police locate the vehicle and identify Imafidon, authorities said. The department confirmed the vehicle’s recovery on Oct. 7, a day before announcing Imafidon’s arrest.
In the days following the crash, local residents told NBC affiliate WLBT that speeding has long plagued North State Street. Vicky McCrimmon described the traffic as consistently fast and busy, urging extra caution around children.
“You think it’s race city some days of the week. It’s always very busy and very fast traffic. So, you have to be very careful when you go up there, especially with the little kids,” McCrimmon told the station.
Another resident, Amy Montes, urged drivers who hit someone to stop and provide assistance instead of fleeing.
“If somebody was to hit anybody with a car, you would hope they would stop and go back. If you can’t stop and go back, please call and get them some help,” Montes said.
Imafidon appeared before Jackson Municipal Court on Oct. 8, where a judge set his bond at $105,000,$75,000 for the manslaughter charge and $30,000 for the felony hit‑and‑run charge. His next court date remains unclear.
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