A Kentwood, La. man was the lone fatality in an early Wednesdayaccident that closed Interstate 55 for around 22 hours, MississippiHighway Patrol officials said.

Mississippi Highway Patrol Troop M Public Affairs Officer Sgt.Rusty Boyd said

Clyde Wilson, 40, was killed early Wednesday morning when the2005 Volvo truck he was driving burst into flames after it collidedwith a mail truck that was parked on the northbound side ofInterstate 55 just south of Exit 30.

Boyd said Wilson’s next of kin have been notified, but LincolnCounty Coroner Clay McMorris said a DNA analysis will still beconducted in order to be absolutely sure of the man’s identity.

“We’re just waiting for absolute positive identification,” saidMcMorris. “I have spoken with Mr. Wilson’s family, but the rightthing to do is that you’ve got to be 100 percent certain.”

The accident occurred when the mail truck, driven by Brian E.Reeves, 38, of Southaven, sideswiped a log truck that was parked atthe side of the road.

“The log truck was not occupied, and we have no idea why it wasthere,” Boyd said. “But it was parked off the road, out of thelanes of traffic.”

Officers on I-55 at the scene of the accident said there were noreflectors or hazard lights around the log truck.

Boyd said after striking the log truck, Reeves had parked hismail truck about 100 yards up the road and had gotten out in orderto go back and check on the log truck. A 2006 Saturn Vue, driven byCarlos Williams, 33, of Jackson, also ran into the median after itwas struck by collision debris.

It was at that point that Wilson’s truck, hauling a load ofhydraulic fluid previously reported as oil, came through the area.As he attempted to avoid the debris in the road, officials said thetruck jackknifed and struck the mail truck.

Boyd said given the magnitude of the accident, which burned hotenough to melt various metals in the trucks, it was lucky that morepeople were not injured.

Lanes on Interstate 55 were closed throughout the day Wednesdayand motorists were rerouted up Highway 51, Boyd said. He said theinterstate was finally cleared for regular traffic around 1 a.m.Thursday.

“They had to close it because when something like that happens,they actually have to dig up the dirt to get it cleaned up,” Boydsaid.