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Incident
Sergeant Iris Smith was killed in a vehicle collision at approximately 3:15 pm when the prisoner transport van she was driving collided with the back of a tractor trailer on U.S. 49, at J M Tatum Industrial Drive, in Hattiesburg.
She was following an ambulance that was transporting an inmate to a local hospital when the crash occurred.
Sergeant Smith had served with the Mississippi Department of Corrections for 15 years and was assigned to the South Mississippi Correctional Institution.
Sergeant Smith had served with the Mississippi Department of Corrections for 15 years and was assigned to the South Mississippi Correctional Institution.
Survivors
She is survived by her daughter, mother, brother, and a grandson.
In Our Keeping
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- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Sergeant Smith gave the Mississippi Department of Corrections 14 years.
Thank you for your service to the people of Mississippi. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Sergeant Smith.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Accident
Mississippi Department of Corrections has lost 9 officers; 2 of them lost to accidents.
Iris is one of 89 officers lost to accidents in MS, 25.4% of the 350 remembered there.
Iris is one of 8,275 officers lost to accidents in the United States, 30% of the 27,551 remembered there.
Iris is one of 10,100 officers lost to accidents worldwide, 29.6% of the 34,117 remembered here.
34,117 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 2015, 3 officers in MS were lost to accidents, the 3rd heaviest of 64 years on record. The heaviest was 1989, with 4.
In 2015, 53 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, the 88th heaviest of 174 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 118.
In 2015, 55 officers worldwide were lost to accidents, the 96th heaviest of 200 years on record. The heaviest was 1930, with 131.
Who
Iris was 53. Of the 83 lost to accidents in MS whose age is recorded, half were between 32 and 52; the middle age was 43. Iris had served 14.6 years; the middle length of service was 8 years.
Iris was 53. Of the 7,718 lost to accidents in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 46; the middle age was 36. Iris had served 14.6 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Iris was 53. Of the 9,451 lost to accidents worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 45; the middle age was 36. Iris had served 14.6 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
May holds 16.9% of these deaths in MS, more than any other month. Mondays: 15.7%.
May holds 8.6% of these deaths in the United States; August holds the most, 9.5%. Mondays: 13.4%.
May holds 8.4% of these deaths worldwide; August holds the most, 9.3%. Mondays: 13.5%.
How
Accident deaths account for 22.2% of all 9 deaths at Mississippi Department of Corrections, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 25.4% of all 350 deaths in MS, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 30% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 29.6% of all 34,117 deaths worldwide, the 2nd most common cause.
Her people
Mississippi Department of Corrections has 9 officers remembered here, Iris among them.
Where
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 46-E
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Others Who Wore This Badge
8 officers from Mississippi Department of Corrections are honored on badge.nw.
