George County employee driving tractor seriously injured in wreck | Environment

A George County employee driving a tractor on Highway 98 was seriously injured after being reared ended by an 18 wheeler Tuesday morning, according to the Mississippi Highway Patrol.

The accident happened around 7:25 a.m. Mississippi Highway Patrol Accident Reconstructionist Roy Jacobsen said the first trooper to respond arrived within one minute of the call.

Jacobsen said 35-year-old Edward Holder of Lucedale was driving a John Deere Tractor owned by George County. Holder was headed east on the right lane of Highway 98. That's when a Volvo 18-wheeler pulled up behind Holder. The driver of that 18-wheeler was 54-year-old Ronald Page of Canton.

Witnesses told officials Page and Holder were heading over a hill when the accident occurred. They said the 18-wheeler tried to avoid the tractor. Instead, the 18-wheeler rear ended the tractor, Jacobsen said. That's when holder was ejected and the tractor overturned on the right shoulder of Highway 98.

Page was transported to George County Regional Hospital and Holder was air lifted to USA Medical Center in Mobile, AL.

No one else was injured. No charges have been filed pending an investigation.

In the State of Mississippi, tractors are considered a husbandry item and they are allowed on the roadways, Jacobsen said. The tractors must have a triangle reflector on the back. The tractor driver complied with all those rules.

George County Supervisor Fred Croom District one released this statement:

"This morning around 7:30 a.m. a member of my District one road crew was seriously injured along Highway 98 east during a collision with an 18 wheeler and a county tractor. I have already visited with his family at the hospital and will not comment on his condition. Except to say please keep him in your prayers tonight and his family during this very difficult time. The highway patrol is the lead agency on this accident and will be conducting their investigation."