FRANKLIN COUNTY — A Smithdale man was killed Tuesday morningafter the vehicle he was driving ran into the back of an 18-wheelerin heavy fog on Highway 98, said a Mississippi Highway Patrolspokesman.

Kyle Ray Cowart, 35, of Smithdale, died when his 1995 Ford truckran into the back of a Sanderson Farms 18-wheeler, driven by BentonStevenson of McComb, and caught fire at the intersection of Highway98 and Highway 571 at 5:39 a.m. Tuesday, according to the accidentreport.

The accident, which occurred about 14 miles from Bude, was oneof six in the area due to fog-blanketed roads.

Cowart was apparently on his way to Franklin County TimberCompany, where he was the sawmill manager. He had worked at theplant for more than 15 years.

Stevenson was not injured in the accident, nor were thereserious injuries in any of the other accidents.

Franklin Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Completeobituary may be found in the Obituary section of the website.