Know all details about the heartbreaking news concerning the demise of two Bayou Academy students in an accident involving Bolivar County Sheriff’s Deputy Brionna Brown
Two Mississippi high school football athletes died when they struck a Bolivar County deputy in a collision.
Two students from Bayou Academy tragically lost their lives after the truck they were driving was struck by a Bolivar County Deputy’s SUV in Cleveland, Mississippi, on the morning of July 8. The victims, identified as Josh Willoughby and Ryder Houser, were reportedly on their way to school for football practice when the crash occurred. According to reports from Delta Daily News, the collision took place just before 6:45 a.m. at the intersection of Yale Street and Crosby Road.
Who is Bolivar County Sheriff’s Deputy Brionna Brown whose car accident resulted in the death of Josh Willoughby and Ryder Houser, Bayou Academy high school football players
The students collided with a Bolivar County deputy, Brionna Brown, traveling in the opposite direction just before 7 a.m. on Yale Street in Cleveland, Mississippi and teens died at the scene.
The students were on their way to football practice.
Ryder Houser and Joshua Benjamin Willoughby Bayou Academy Accident Cleveland, MS: Students killed in Tuesday crash near Yale and Crosby were on their way to football practice when their vehicle was struck by Bolivar County deputy Brionna Brown's truck https://t.co/27BYmEHmhl pic.twitter.com/7mmL83Oy8V
— GHLiveReports (@Grhavit) July 9, 2025
“We are all hurting at the loss of two of our own. We also ask that you pray for those at the Bolivar County Sheriff’s Office and the families involved,” Bayou Academy said.
Brown was injured but is expected to recover.
Both students were pronounced dead at the scene. Authorities noted that the boys had been driving a 1986 Toyota truck when their vehicle was T-boned by a 2019 Dodge Ram operated by Deputy Brionna Brown. The Mississippi Highway Patrol arrived at the scene around 7 a.m., confirming the deaths, which occurred roughly a mile from the Bayou Academy campus.
Bolivar County Deputy Brionna Brown, 29, of Pace, was traveling west on Yale Street when her 2019 Dodge Ram collided with a 1986 Toyota Truck that was heading north on Crosby Road.
Authorities said Brown received moderate injuries and was transported to a local hospital as a result of the crash.
The school community responded with deep sorrow. In a public statement, the administration urged everyone to pray for the families involved, as well as the wider Bayou Academy family, expressing that the loss had deeply affected them all. They also requested support for the Bolivar County Sheriff’s Office and emphasized that counselors and administrators were available for any students in need of support.
Deputy Coroner Murray Roark stated that the crash took place at the Yale and Crosby intersection. While the deputy sustained only minor injuries, a full recovery was expected. Preliminary investigations by the Mississippi Highway Patrol indicated that the deputy had been traveling west on Yale Street when her SUV collided with the boys’ truck, which was headed north on Crosby Road. The investigation remains ongoing.
Josh’s obituary described a teenager with a zest for life and a heart full of compassion. He was said to have been a dedicated athlete who played football as a defensive end, participated in swimming and soccer, and enjoyed working out at the gym. His love for animals was reflected in his work at Delta Dog House. Simple pleasures like bananas, pasta, and Cheerios, along with time spent in his grandparents’ yard and watching movies or UFC boxing, reportedly brought him the most joy.
Visitation for Josh was scheduled at Cleveland Funeral Home on July 10, followed by a Celebration of Life service in the chapel. Ryder’s obituary conveyed heartfelt reflections from his loved ones. They remembered him for the laughter he inspired, the lessons he shared, and the quiet comfort of his presence. His spirit was believed to live on through the love he spread and the warmth he left behind. Visitation for Ryder was also planned for July 10 at the First United Methodist Church.