A one-vehicle accident claimed the life of a Hazlehurst manSaturday night, Copiah County officials said.

Copiah County Sheriff Harold Jones confirmed that the deceasedwas Billy Middleton, 53, of Highway 472 in Hazlehurst. He said itlooked as though Middleton had lost control of the vehicle.

Copiah County Deputy Medical Examiner Investigator Judy Evanssaid Middleton, who was not wearing a seat belt, was thrown fromhis Chevrolet Silverado about five miles south of Hazlehurst onHighway 51.

“He appeared to have sustained a lot of head trauma,” Evanssaid. “Most of the damage to the vehicle was in the cab portion ofthe truck.”

The accident occurred on Highway 51 around 10:30 p.m. Saturday.Evans said she arrived about 10:50 p.m., and Middleton waspronounced dead on the scene.

Middleton’s body was sent to the state Crime Lab for an autopsyand toxicology report. Officials said the Mississippi HighwayPatrol is investigating the accident.

Middleton’s funeral arrangements, which are still pending, arebeing handled by Stringer Funeral Home in Hazlehurst.