[09/08/03] A Vicksburg man was killed at about midnight Saturday when the all-terrain vehicle on which he was sitting was hit by a car at a hunting camp in Issaquena County.

Bill Hallberg III, 40, had been a lifelong resident of Vicksburg. He was at a hunting camp off Newman Road west of Valley Park with friends, his father, Bill “Buddy” Hallberg Jr., said this morning. The group had hunted dove earlier Saturday, and they were riding all-terrain cycles at night, something they frequently did, Buddy Hallberg said.

He said his son and others were sitting on the four-wheel cycles on Newman Road near a road leading to another hunting camp when a car approached. Hallberg said he was told his son was facing away from the car as it approached and two others Joel Lynch, a cousin, and Bubba Matthews were facing the car.

“Bill couldn’t get out of the way,” Buddy Hallberg said.

Issaquena County Sheriff Arthur “Bubba” Lawler identified the driver of the car as Thelisa C. Page, 36, 1913 Heather Drive, Vicksburg.

Issaquena Chief Deputy Richard Jones said no charges had been filed and the investigation was continuing. He said an accident reconstructionist from the Mississippi Highway Safety Patrol was called to the scene and results from her investigation would determine whether charges would be filed.

Jones said Page was treated and released from Sharkey Issaquena Hospital.

Sharkey County Coroner Ola Mae Holmes ruled the death was due to massive head trauma. The body was taken to Mississippi Mortuaries in Pearl for an autopsy.

Bill Hallberg was a graduate of Vicksburg High School and received an associate’s degree in agriculture from Hinds Community College.

“He always wanted to be a farmer, but it never worked out,” his father said.

The younger Hallberg worked for Anderson-Tully Co. for about 17 years and had been employed by LeTour-neau Inc. in the safety department for the past two years.

He was active in the melodrama “Gold In The Hills” and with the Miss Mississippi Pageant, where he was backstage stage manager, said Pat Hopson, pageant vice chairman. “We have established a scholarship in his honor, and we hope to make it an annual thing,” she said.

Hopson said donations may be made to Miss Mississippi Pageant, P.O. Box 742, Vicksburg, MS 39181.

Riles Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.