Pike County’s road manager died in an accident at the county road barn after being struck by a vehicle Monday, county officials said.
Wendell Alexander died at Southwest Mississippi Regional Medical Center, where he was taken after the accident early Monday afternoon.
Alexander was working on a City of McComb vehicle, reportedly driven by an acquaintance, when the accident occurred.
County officials said the vehicle was mistakenly in gear when the engine revved. The vehicle lunged forward and struck Alexander.
Attempts to airlift Alexander to the University of Mississippi Medical Center were reportedly scrubbed due to weather, an official said.
It’s unclear who was driving the city vehicle, which department it was assigned to or why it was at the county barn.
Some county departments, including one where Alexander’s daughter worked, closed early Monday afternoon after the incident.
Alexander went to work as the county’s road manager in 2019. He was two months away from retirement.
A graduate of South Pike High School, he was employed by W.E. Alexander Construction before going to work for the city of McComb in 2005.
