Pascagoula High Athlete Dies in Water Accident

PASCAGOULA, Miss. (WCBI) – Pascagoula High School football player Caleb Sweeten was killed in a water skiing accident this afternoon, while his teammate Brandon Rich remains missing.

According to Jackson County Sheriff Mike Byrd, the accident occurred about 3:30 on the Pascagoula River, just north of the U.S. 90 bridge. Byrd says the boys were boogie boarding when one boy fell off and the other went into the water.

Caleb Sweeten was a sophomore, a part-time starter at linebacker and was expected to start next football season.

Brandon Rich overcame a heart ailment during his junior year to earn all-state honors as a senior and was set to play at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College in the fall.

The accident is still under investigation but a flood warning has been extended for the Pascagoula River until Thursday morning in the wake of last week’s heavy rains.