Richland, MS — January 10, 2026, one person was injured due to a pedestrian versus truck accident along U.S. Highway 49.

Details surrounding the accident remain scarce. According to authorities, the accident took place in the southbound lanes of U.S. Highway 49, though news reports have yet to specify the exact location.

Officials indicate that, for as yet unclear reasons, a pedestrian was struck by an 18-wheeler. The pedestrian reportedly suffered injuries of unknown severity as a result of the collision. They were transported to a local medical facility by EMS in order to receive necessary treatment.

Additional information pertaining to this incident—including the identity of the victim—is not available at this point in time. The investigation is currently ongoing.

Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman

When a pedestrian is struck by an 18-wheeler on a major highway, the key question is: Why was the pedestrian in or near the travel lanes, and did the truck driver have any chance to avoid the collision? Without more detail, it's impossible to draw conclusions, but this type of crash almost always centers on visibility, reaction time, and whether either party was where they were supposed to be.

Highways like U.S. 49 aren’t designed for pedestrian traffic, so anytime someone ends up on foot in that environment, the circumstances matter. Was the person walking along the shoulder? Crossing the highway? Had they exited a vehicle following a breakdown or another incident? Each of these scenarios raises different legal and safety considerations.

Investigators should be focusing on:

• Time of day and visibility conditions, including whether lighting or weather may have impaired the driver’s ability to see the pedestrian;
• The truck’s speed and lane position, which can be evaluated through ECM (black box) data;
• Dash cam footage, if available, to determine when and where the pedestrian became visible to the driver;
• Whether the pedestrian was impaired, distracted, or attempting to cross illegally;
• Whether the driver was distracted or fatigued, particularly if the pedestrian was in view for some time before impact.

I’ve handled cases where pedestrians were hit on highways after their vehicles broke down or after they tried to cross between nearby businesses. Sometimes they had no good options for safe passage; other times they made a risky choice. Either way, a commercial truck driver is expected to maintain control and respond to hazards—but only if those hazards were visible and avoidable in time.

Until more facts are known, this case remains open-ended. The law doesn’t assume fault based on who was injured—it requires a detailed examination of how the collision occurred and whether either party failed to uphold their duty to avoid it.

Key Takeaways:

• It's not yet clear why the pedestrian was on the highway or whether they were visible to the truck driver in time to avoid impact.
• ECM data, dash cam footage, and visibility conditions will be key to understanding the driver's ability to react.
• Pedestrian conduct—including location, movement, and intent—will also play a role in determining fault.
• Highways pose extreme risks to pedestrians, but that doesn’t eliminate a truck driver’s responsibility to maintain awareness.
• A complete investigation is needed before any meaningful conclusions about liability can be drawn.