Hancock County native with ‘heart of gold’ dies after boat crash on the Jourdan River

A Hancock County native died Sunday evening from injuries sustained in a boat crash on the Jourdan River, Coroner Jeff Hair confirmed to the Sun Herald.

Savannah Davis, 23, died from blunt force trauma at Ochsner Medical Center Hancock in Bay St. Louis, Hair said.

Davis lives in Poplarville but is from Kiln. She graduated from Hancock High School in 2018

Hundreds of people spent Sunday sharing prayers for Davis on Facebook and hoping for a miracle.

She loved being on the water and spent most of her life on the Jourdan River. Friends said the 23-year-old had a “heart of gold” and was always the life of the party. Davis was also very close with her family — her father and stepmother live on the Jourdan River.

“You were the energy in every room you walked in,” Kacey Peterson said on Facebook, along with a photo she took with Davis on Saturday. “24 hours ago we talked about Mother’s Day and plans. 24 hours ago you helped me clean the bar. How is this even possible?”

Davis was reportedly on a boat with her girlfriend and others when another vessel collided with theirs on the Jourdan River north of Interstate 10. It’s not clear how many people total were involved in the crash, or the extent of injuries.

Photos of the two boats involved on the crash circulated across social media on Sunday. A dog was rescued from one of the vessels.

Hancock County sheriff’s officials told the Sun Herald that the Department of Marine Resources is investigating. The Sun Herald reached out to DMR for comment.

Savannah’s death is the second tragedy in less than 24 hours in Hancock County. Two Hancock High students died after a mass shooting at house party in Bay St. Louis. Four other teens ages 15-18 were also shot and are recovering in area hospitals. The alleged shooter in that case, who is also a teenager, has been arrested.

The Sun Herald will update this story when more information is available.