A McComb man died in a two-vehicle accident involving an 18-wheeler on Highway 24 in Amite County Tuesday night.
Mississippi Highway Patrol Sgt. Brandon Fortenberry said Ricky Matthews, 50, was pronounced dead on the scene after his 1998 Chevrolet pickup truck, which was headed east, apparently drifted across the center lane and hit the trailer of a westbound Volvo 18-wheeler. The accident occurred near Upper Glading Road around 6:30, Fortenberry said.
The driver of the 18-wheeler, Christopher W. Kimbrough, 50, of Shannon, attempted to avoid contact with Matthews by swerving onto the righthand shoulder of the road, but was unable to get the trailer completely out of the way, Fortenberry said. Kimbrough was not injured.
Matthew’s truck hit the 18-wheeler, spun around and came to rest in the middle of the highway, Fortenberry said.
Both lanes of the highway were closed after the wreck while response crews cleared the highway of debris. Traffic was still blocked at 7:57 p.m. when Amite County Emergency Management Director Grant McCurley left the scene.
Arrangements for Matthews are incomplete at Young’s Funeral Home of Summit.
