Four killed in I-59 collision near Pearl River

Four people in a Dodge Ram pickup were killed Friday morning, when an 18-wheeler slammed into the truck on Interstate 59 just south of the state border.

Louisiana State Police spokesman, Trooper Nick Manale said that around 10 a.m. a semi-trailer was going north on I-59, when the driver lost control, went across the median and slammed into the southbound pickup carrying four people.

Though the accident is still under investigation, Manale said police believe that the semi’s right front tire, either came off, or blew out, causing the driver to lose control and come across the interstate’s median. The collision caused the pickup to spin around and finally stop about 30 feet from the highway in some heavy brush. The semi trailer jackknifed and came to rest right next to the pickup.

The four unidentified victims were pronounced dead on the scene. Manale said the driver of the 18-wheeler suffered moderate injuries, none of them life-threatening.

The pickup truck was so mangled that police could not even see the license plates to identify the victims or from which state the truck was registered.

Police are still investigating the accident and more information in forthcoming.