A tire blowout on Interstate 55 near Bogue Chitto Mondayafternoon led to a crash that has placed a mother and child incritical condition at a Jackson hospital, authorities said.

Shannon J. Swanson, 34, of 150 McLaurin Circle, Brandon, and her8-year-old son, Samuel V. Albert, are being treated for severeinjuries at the University of Mississippi Medical Center inJackson, said Sgt. Rusty Boyd, public relations officer for theMississippi Highway Safety Patrol, today.

Swanson was traveling north on I-55 around 4 p.m. when witnessessay the left rear tire of her 2001 Chevrolet Venture minivan blewout, causing her to lose control of the vehicle, Boyd said. Theminivan veered off to the right, started rolling and struck a treewith the top of the vehicle.

Albert was ejected from the vehicle, Boyd said. Swanson, who waswearing a seat belt, was trapped in the vehicle and had to beextracted by the Jaws of Life.

Danny Grant, a cement truck driver from Jackson, said he wastraveling behind Swanson when the accident occurred.

“I saw the tire when it blew,” he said. “I saw the smoke andrubber coming off the tire.”

The minivan caught fire after striking the tree, Grant said, andhe used a fire extinguisher that he keeps in his truck to put itout.

“The engine was the only part burning,” he said. “It was runningand wouldn’t shut off. The engine was really blazing up.”

The mother and child were transported to King’s DaughtersMedical Center and immediately flown to UMC.

First responders from Bogue Chitto and Hog Chain volunteer firedepartments, along with other emergency personnel, responded to theaccident.