A Mississippi Department of Transportation worker died from injuries sustained in a two-vehicle accident Monday afternoon on Interstate 55, authorities said.

     Hollis J. Anderson Jr., 53, of 6220 Highway 569, Smithdale, was southbound on the intestate when the MDOT vehicle he was driving was struck from behind by a 2006 Freightliner driven by Jimmy D. Cox, 40, of 945 Kokomo Road, Kokomo, around 3:40 p.m. Monday, said Staff Sgt. Rusty Boyd, public affairs officer for the Mississippi Highway Patrol Troop M. The MDOT truck, a 2008 Ford F350, was being used for construction in the area.

     In the accident, the MDOT vehicle was knocked into the median and collided with the guardrail on the northbound side, Boyd said.

     Anderson, who was not wearing an occupant restraint, was transported to King’s Daughter Medical Center where he was pronounced dead at 4:39 p.m. by Lincoln County Coroner Clay McMorris. McMorris said an autopsy has been ordered.

     John G. Granger, a passenger in the MDOT vehicle, was transported to KDMC with severe injuries and then flown to the University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson, Boyd said. Granger, 46, of 2587 Highway 569 south, Liberty, was not restrained at the time of the collision.

     Cox was wearing an occupant restraint and received no injuries as a result of the collision, Boyd said.

     The cause of the accident remains under investigation, Boyd said.