Willie sentenced to 13 years for fatal DUI crash

Published 6:00 pm Monday, March 2, 2026

District Attorney Kassie Coleman announced Monday the guilty plea and sentencing of a Braxton Jacolbee Willie, 32, for aggravated DUI causing death in connection with the death of Ms. Janan Rush. Circuit Court Judge Robert Bailey sentenced Braxton Jacolbee Willie to serve 13 years in the custody of the Mississippi Department of Corrections.

On Sept. 4, Rush was on her way to work at East Mississippi Community College–Golden Triangle Campus where she worked as an instructor and the Program Director of the Surgical Technology Program when Willie struck her vehicle in a head-on collision. The evidence showed that Willie drove his black Jeep Wrangler across the center line of Highway 39 into the northbound lane and struck Rush’s white Chevrolet Monte Carlo. Rush died as a result of injuries sustained in the crash.

Toxicology reports showed that Willie’s Blood Alcohol Concentration was .20, more than two times the illegal (.08) limit, and he also had THC in his blood. An eyewitness who had also been traveling on Highway 39 that morning reported that Willie had been driving dangerously prior to the crash.

“Ms. Rush’s death was a terrible loss for our community. She was a beloved mother, daughter, sister, friend, and instructor who has been recognized for her dedicated work in training others to pursue a career she loved in surgical technology. Today’s sentencing should serve as notice for those who choose to drive while impaired. Those offenders’ actions endanger everyone who travels on our roadways and such actions will not be tolerated. I appreciate Ms. Rush’s family who has remained patient as we pursued this conviction.” said Coleman.

Willie was indicted by a Kemper County Grand Jury in March 2022. Monday’s plea came after a jury was convened to start his trial. The Mississippi Highway Patrol investigated the crash. The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Cory Griffin and Erich Jerscheid.

The victim’s family said Rush was a dedicated mother who loved her family deeply. “Since her childhood, Janan always knew she wanted to do something in the medical field. She was very excited and honored to be selected as director of the program at EMCC so she could help students become great surgical technologists.” said EMCC Vice President of Instruction Dr. James Rush, who is Janan Rush’s brother.