NATCHEZ — An Alcorn State University professor died early Sunday morning after a car struck the motorcycle he was riding on U.S. 61 South in Vicksburg.

Vicksburg Police Chief Walter J. Armstrong said Noland Boyd, 50, was struck from behind by a car driven by Kevin Williams Jr., 17, of Vicksburg, traveling the same direction. Boyd was thrown from his motorcycle and landed in the median. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Alcohol is not believed to be a factor in the crash, Armstrong said.

Accident reconstruction experts were scheduled to be at the scene Monday along with the Mississippi Highway Safety Patrol to determine the cause of the crash.

Boyd was a chemistry professor at Alcorn State.

In a statement, Alcorn President Alfred Rankins Jr. said Boyd’s presence would be dearly missed by all who knew him.

“Boyd was beloved by his students and a respected member of the Department of Chemistry and Physics,” Rankins said. “We are saddened to hear of his passing. Our prayers and hearts are with his family.”

Boyd is survived by his wife Dr. Gwendolyn Boyd, who is also a member of the faculty at Alcorn.