Investigators didn’t know Wednesday evening the reason the driver of an early model Nissan Titan pickup truck left Interstate 59 between McNeill and Millard before striking one of the few trees left in the median.

Sgt. Joseph Johnson said the driver’s name was Frederick Wilkins, age unknown, of 5504-1/2 St. Roch St., New Orleans.

Wilkins was north bound on I-59 when his truck left the interstate, going into the median. After entering the median the vehicle struck a tree and flipped, Johnson said.

Wilkins initially was taken to the Pearl River County Hospital in Poplarville and then was flown to Forrest General Hospital in Hattiesburg, Johnson said. Wilkins was alone in the vehicle at the time of the accident and his was the only vehicle known to be involved, Johnson said.

Wilkins is reported to not have been wearing his seatbelt, Johnson said.

“He was very incoherent because he was asking where he was and stuff,” Johnson said.

The lone vehicle in the accident appeared to have struck the tree in the driver’s side front of the vehicle, Johnson said.

“If he’d have hit it sideways it could have killed him,” he said.