JASPER COUNTY, Miss. (WDAM) --George and Kerri Barnett said they were in the car with their two sons Monday night, headed to visit George’s mother, when Kerri saw a rhesus monkey crossing the street.

This sighting was just off of Exit 118 on Interstate 59, about one mile from where a truck crashed last Tuesday and three monkeys escaped.

The Barnetts said from that initial spotting, their top concern was the community.

“You’re only doing what you need to do to protect your community and this whole county,” said George Barnett. “And then to hear people saying, you know, ‘You’re wrong, you’re going to hell,’ and all of this stuff, that kind of hurts.”

George Barnett said this was a road they travel frequently.

“Just coming up to see mom,” he said. “Never thought we would be on a safari.”

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