By By Marianne Todd/The Meridian Star
The Mississippi Highway Patrol is investigating a bizarre Friday accident in which a Lauderdale County teen-ager was rescued from his wrecked car and then later found to have been shot in the head.
Officials said Otis Portis, 18, was taken to the hospital after the 10:30 a.m. mishap, which occurred just south of Cotton Gin Road on Highway 45 North. Emergency rescue crews found the teen's Chevy Baretta wrapped around a tree.
After the young man was transported to Jeff Anderson Regional Medical Center, a bullet was found lodged in his head, said Sgt. Ronnie Carter of the Mississippi Highway Patrol. The teen was listed in critical condition Friday night.
Bristow said he found a .22 caliber handgun in the steering wheel during an initial inspection of the car.
Bristow said he turned the gun over to MHP officials.
Carter said investigators are not sure where the bullet came from, whether it was discharged from the gun during the wreck or whether it came from another source.
A ballistics test and complete investigation will determine whether the bullet came from the gun found in the car or from another gun, he said.
Marianne Todd is a staff writer for The Meridian Star. E-mail her at mtodd@themeridianstar.com.