A local man died in one of two accidents that occurred on Interstate 59 Wednesday morning.

The fatal accident occurred on Interstate 59 near the 17-mile marker in Pearl River County as Stephen Stuart, 44, of Picayune was driving north bound, said Mississippi Highway Patrol Public Information Officer Corporal Johnny Poulos.

Witness accounts state that Stuart passed an 18-wheeler and then for an unknown reason he left the road into the median, crashing into the trees on the driver’s side of the vehicle, Poulos said.

Poulos said the accident took place at about 8:30 a.m. Pearl River County Coroner Derek Turnage said Stuart’s cause of death was listed as a closed head injury.

A non-fatal accident occurred earlier that same morning on Interstate 59 in St. Tammany Parish, La., said Louisiana State Police Public Information Officer Patrolman First Class Louis Calato. That accident took place at about 6:44 a.m. Wednesday at the 3.2 mile marker in the south bound lane.

Three Pearl River County residents were injured in the accident, but no deaths were reported.

Calato said that apparently Chris Gisclair, 39, of Picayune was driving a 1998 Chevy Prism, and Gerard Emlancor, 45, of Picayune was driving a 2003 Dodge.

The accident occurred as Gisclair attempted to pass Emlancor. During the maneuver the two cars collided, sending them both off the right side of the road. Both drivers and Emlancor’s passenger, identified as Brandon Williams, 27, of Carriere, were trapped inside the vehicles and had to be extricated by the Pearl River (La.) Fire Department, Calato said.

When emergency personnel arrived on scene, the two drivers were conscious, but Williams was not.

Williams was airlifted out with moderate injuries, but was expected to live, Calato said. The driver of each vehicle was each listed with minor injuries.