Overturned car on I-10 claims one life in Jackson County

A tragic accident early Sunday morning killed 55-year-old Ladonna Rich of Lucedale after she was rear-ended by an 18 wheeler on the Pascagoula River Bridge, forcing the car off the bridge and into the water.

The accident happened around 7:20 Sunday morning on I-10 eastbound in Jackson County near mile marker 64.

According to Mississippi Highway Patrol an 18-wheeler driven by 27-year-old Darion Lopez of Miami Springs, Florida was going eastbound on I-10 when he rear-ended Rich. From the impact, Rich’s car was pushed off the bridge into the Pascagoula River. Rich was pronounced dead on scene. Lopez did not have any injuries.

Highway Patrol shutdown I-10 past Exit 61 and diverted traffic to Highway 90 so the woman’s car could be retrieved from the water. Two wreckers dropped cables down the side of the bridge so divers could hook the car to be lifted out.

No charges are pending and the cause of the crash is still under investigation.