News Summary
The family of 18-year-old Robert Noah, who tragically died in a head-on collision, is advocating for the installation of rumble strips on dangerous highways in Mississippi. Their push aims to enhance road safety and prevent further tragedies on routes like Highway 7. Despite proven benefits and the state’s high fatality rate, rumble strips remain sparse, particularly in Grenada County. The Noah family hopes their efforts will raise awareness and prompt change in highway safety measures.
Grenada, Mississippi – Following the tragic death of 18-year-old Robert Noah, his family is advocating for the installation of rumble strips on dangerous sections of highways in Mississippi, specifically targeting stretches like Highway 7 where a fatal accident occurred.
Robert Noah was returning to Jackson from attending the Ole Miss season-opening football game against Furman on September 1, 2024, when the accident took place around 3 p.m. Witnesses reported that Robert may have been blinded by the afternoon sun as he drove up a hill, causing him to drift into oncoming traffic. He collided head-on with a vehicle driven by Peaches McMurry, 35, from Batesville. Lizzie Tucker, 74, of Richmond, Texas, was also in McMurry’s car. Tragically, both Noah and Tucker died at the scene, while McMurry survived the crash.
The Noah family believes that the addition of rumble strips—a solution proven to provide effective warnings against head-on and off-road collisions—could have potentially prevented this tragedy. Rumble strips create audible and tactile warnings for drivers who may be veering off their lanes, and they have been shown to decrease such accidents notably. Despite known benefits, Mississippi has lagged in implementing these measures, choosing instead to prioritize other safety enhancements.
While some interstate areas and roads across Mississippi have seen the installation of rumble strips, many high-risk two-lane roads like Highway 7 remain without them. In fact, Grenada County does not currently have any rumble strips in place, despite Highway 7 being one of the most dangerous routes in the state. A recent study identified Mississippi as home to the deadliest roads in the U.S., with a staggering fatality rate of 25 deaths per 100,000 residents in 2023. In contrast, states like Ohio have made significant improvements to road safety by mandating rumble strips on all two-lane state highways with speed limits above 45 mph, resulting in lower fatality rates.
In their efforts to raise awareness, the Noah family produced a poignant one-minute video utilizing artificial intelligence to recreate Robert’s voice. The video recounts his story and emphasizes the dangers he faced on Highway 7. It also uses orange cones to mark the locations of accidents along the road. At Robert’s former school, Madison Ridgeland Academy (MRA), a special tribute took place following his death. A cone was placed in his reserved parking space, which students adorned with flowers throughout the 2024-25 school year. The orange cone emerged as a cherished symbol for MRA’s athletic teams, who embraced it in memory of Robert, using cone stickers and orange ribbons during events.
Marcie Noah, Robert’s mother, plans to release the video on the anniversary of his passing in hopes of driving home the message about the potential life-saving impact of rumble strips along Mississippi roads. The installation of these safety measures could help prevent other families from experiencing similar loss and tragedy.
Efforts to engage with the Mississippi Department of Transportation for comments regarding rumble strips and highway safety have so far been unsuccessful. As the Noah family continues to advocate for change, they remain committed to honoring Robert’s memory and hope that by pushing for road safety enhancements, other lives may be spared.
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Additional Resources
- Hattiesburg American
- Wikipedia: Rumble Strip
- Hattiesburg American: Highway Safety Advocacy
- Google Search: Highway Safety Measures
- Hattiesburg American: Mississippi Highway Accidents
- Google Scholar: Rumble Strips Effectiveness
- Hattiesburg American: Road Safety Improvements
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Traffic Safety
Author: STAFF HERE OXFORD WRITER
The OXFORD STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HEREOxford.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Oxford, Lafayette County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as the Oxford Film Festival, Double Decker Arts Festival, and University of Mississippi football games. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Oxford-Lafayette County Chamber of Commerce and the University of Mississippi, plus leading businesses in education and retail that power the local economy such as Ole Miss Athletics and Square Books. As part of the broader HERE network, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Mississippi's dynamic landscape.
