Jackson County, MS — May 20, 2024, Paul Wilson was killed in a truck accident at about 6 p.m. on Interstate 10 near the Alabama border.

Authorities said a 2016 Western Star semi-truck was going east on I-10 when it collided with a 2024 Audi, then crossed the median and crashed into a westbound 2000 Freightliner semi-truck.

Western Star driver Paul Frederick Wilson, 53, of Saint Hedwig, TX, died after the crash, according to authorities.

No other injuries were reported.

Authorities have not released any additional information about the crash at this time.

Commentary

When a crash involves a semi-truck crossing the median and colliding with another vehicle head-on, the key question is: What caused the truck to leave its lane in the first place? A collision between the truck and an Audi set this chain of events in motion, but without a thorough investigation, there’s no way to know if this was avoidable or if outside factors played a role.

One major issue that needs to be looked at is whether the roadway was designed to prevent crossover crashes. Medians on high-speed highways like I-10 should have barriers strong enough to stop large trucks from entering oncoming traffic. If no such barriers were in place, then that raises the question of whether better infrastructure could have prevented this fatal wreck.

Another important factor is what led to the initial contact between the truck and the Audi. Was the smaller vehicle moving unpredictably? Did something in traffic force the truck into a dangerous situation? Without dashcam footage, witness statements or traffic camera evidence, it’s impossible to say for sure.

Mechanical issues are also worth considering. Did the truck suffer a tire blowout or brake failure that contributed to the loss of control? I’ve handled cases where equipment failures — sometimes due to poor maintenance — caused trucks to behave unpredictably, leading to deadly crashes. A proper investigation should include a full mechanical inspection of the vehicle to rule out these possibilities.

At this stage, too many questions remain unanswered. But one thing is clear: this isn’t just a matter of one vehicle hitting another. There are larger factors at play, and the only way to get the full story is to look beyond the crash scene. If authorities don’t examine road design, vehicle condition and all contributing factors, they risk missing critical details that could explain how this crash happened.