A man who allegedly was walking in the right-hand, south bound lane of Interstate 59 was hit by a truck and died.

The incident occurred Monday evening at about 11:51 in the south bound lane of interstate about a quarter of a mile from mile marker three, said Picayune Police Deputy Chief David Ervin. At that time a Ford F-500 utility truck was traveling south on the interstate when the driver noticed a man walking in the right-hand lane.

The driver attempted to slow and swerve to the next lane but the man was hit with the passenger side rear view mirror and a utility box on the truck. Officers with the Picayune Police Department, Pearl River County Sheriff’s Department and the Mississippi Highway Patrol all observed evidence on scene that led them to believe the victim was walking in the right hand lane of the interstate when he was hit.

The victim was identified as Donald Sander Jr., 58, of Nicholson. County Coroner Derek Turnage said Sander was taken to Highland Community Hospital where he was pronounced dead. The cause of death has been ruled as acute head trauma. Turnage said that due to the circumstances of the accident, he has ordered an autopsy to rule out any possibility of foul play.

Ervin said the accident report filed at the Police Department stated that there was no indication of intoxication on the driver’s part, but according to state law blood was drawn and sent to the state crime lab.