Gulfport police chief's stepdaughter struck, killed by alleged drunk driver

A Gulfport man faces a charge of DUI causing death following an accident Tuesday that killed Deanna Tucker, the stepdaughter of Gulfport Police Chief Alan Weatherford.

Tucker, 29, was loading her young child into her car when she was struck by another car driven by 26-year-old Darryl Edward Blappert and pinned between the two vehicles, authorities said Wednesday.

Tucker died about 11 p.m. Tuesday following surgery at Gulfport Memorial Hospital, Harrison County Coroner Gary Hargrove said.

Blappert was originally charged with driving under the influence and taken to the Harrison County Adult Detention Center, Papania said.

That charge was upgraded Wednesday morning to DUI causing death, Papania said.

Blappert's bail was set at $1 million, and he remained in the county jail Wednesday.

Tucker's son, about 4 years old, suffered minor injuries, officials said.

According to Deputy Chief Leonard Papania, Tucker, of Gulfport, was putting her child in a car seat at the Bridal and Formal Boutique lot at 1524 Pass Road.

Tucker was pinned to her Honda Accord when her car was hit at 5:15 p.m. Tuesday by a 2004 Mustang driven by Blappert, Papania said.

Blappert, of Gulfport, was driving in the westbound lane on Pass Road and left the street near 15th Avenue, Papania said.

The Mississippi Bureau of Investigations and the Biloxi Police crash re-creation team were assisting Gulfport Police in the investigation Wednesday, Papania said.

Blappert faces up to 25 years in prison if convicted of DUI causing death.

"The Gulfport Police Department has a long history of proactive traffic enforcement," Papania said. "Annually, we set goals aimed at reducing crashes and crashes with injuries. The police department has made tremendous efforts regarding public awareness of the dangers of drunk driving.

"People must take personal responsibility for impairment driving prevention to truly ensure the safety of themselves and others. In tragedy like this, there are great complexities in healing and recovering, while the prevention is so very simple -- don't drink and drive."

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