A northbound lane of Interstate 55 was closed most of Tuesdaymorning after a tractor-trailer left the road and burned.

A 1998 Freightliner commercial truck towing a 40-foot dry boxtrailer of pots and pans was traveling north on I-55 near theLincoln-Pike county line when it left the roadway to the rightaround 5 a.m., said Staff Sgt. Rod Crawford, public affairs officerfor Mississippi Highway Patrol Troop M.

“It struck several trees and caught fire,” he said.

Landour Bouie Jr., 56, of New Orleans, driving for Gulf CoastIntermodal, also of New Orleans, pulled himself from the wreckageand was later transported to Southwest Mississippi Regional MedicalCenter in McComb, Crawford said.

Troopers closed one northbound lane following the accident toclear the debris and remove the wreckage. That lane did not reopenuntil 11:30 a.m., he said.

The truck was a total loss, Crawford said, and the trailer andcontents sustained heavy damage.