A Brookhaven man and his girlfriend were listed in faircondition at a Jackson hospital today following a hit-and-runaccident on Interstate 55 Tuesday night.

Rudolph Smith IV, 20, and Jacqueline Ready, 18, were injuredwhen Smith’s 1986 Mazda pickup was hit by an 18-wheeler around 7:30p.m. Tuesday in the interstate’s northbound lane near exit 40, saidMississippi Highway Patrol Trooper Kevin Smith.

Smith’s truck was side-swiped by the 18-wheeler, which did notstop following the accident, the trooper said. Smith was thrownfrom his vehicle.

Smith, of 511 Grand Junction Lane, was airlifted to theUniversity of Mississippi Medical Center and Ready, of 4711Rollison Road, Liberty, also was taken to the Jackson hospital.

Judy Ready said her daughter recently had moved to Brookhaven.She said the Tuesday accident happened shortly after JacquelineReady had picked Smith up from work and they were going home.

Smith had been listed in critical condition, but a UMC spokesmantoday said his condition was fair. Citing patient privacyregulations, the spokesman was unable to provide any additionalinformation.

Jacqueline Ready sustained several broken ribs, punctured lungsand a lacerated liver, her mother said. The girl remained in thehospital’s intensive care unit but was improving.

“She seems to be doing pretty good, I believe,” said Judy Ready,who expressed appreciation for the community’s thoughts and prayersfollowing the accident.

Judy Ready did not have a timetable for when her daughter mightbe released from the hospital.

Trooper Smith said there were no witnesses to the accident andno description of the 18-wheeler.