[11/20/04]A Union, Miss., trucker died Friday night when his rig burst into flames just east of the Mississippi River Bridge on Interstate 20.

Police Lt. David Beard late Friday identified the victim as Cary M. Overton Jr., 31, 5772 Highway 492 West.

Beard said the truck was eastbound just east of the Iowa Boulevard bridge at around 7 p.m., when it ran off the road to the left, overcorrected to the right and came to a stop in the median after hitting a utility pole.

The cab of the truck was destroyed by the flames, leaving behind only the engine and the shell of the sleeper cab.

Beard said he did not know what caused the fire or if the driver was trapped in the truck. He also could not say if the driver was conscience when the vehicle left the highway.

Warren County Corner John Thomason said Mr. Overton’s body would be taken to Mississippi Mortuary in Pearl for autopsy later today.

Beard said the truck was owned by Lynn Wilkerson of Midnight, Miss., and he believed the truck had been hauling cotton from the South Delta.

The trailer of the 18-wheeler was nearly empty, carrying only plastic bags and tarps, when the wreck occurred, Beard said.

Beard said Mr. Overton is survived by a wife and parents, all in Union.

Friday night’s wreck was the 11th fatal accident in Warren County this year.

About 30 minutes after the wreck, city police were called to two wrecks on I-20 at U.S. 61 North. At least three vehicles were involved in those two wrecks, and six people were taken to River Region Medical Center.

The victims were not identified.