By David Hamilton

NATCHEZ — Natchez police released information Sunday regarding last week’s accident when a garbage truck crushed a car on John R. Junkin Drive.

Natchez police Sgt. Jerry Ford said Marcos Ortiz Pacheco of Mexico was the driver of the crushed car. He was extricated from his vehicle and airlifted to a hospital, though Ford said Air Evac Lifeteam would not release the actual medical facility due to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).

Ford said police are working to determine where exactly Pacheco was taken. No update was given on Pacheco’s condition.

Pacheco was coming to a stop, Ford said, at a red light at the intersection of John R. Junkin Drive and Homochitto Street before the collision.

Ford said the accident occurred when the driver of the Waste Pro truck, Michael Clemons, failed to brake in time to stop and instead rammed his truck into Pacheco’s car and then drove over the car.

“When (Clemons) noticed the car in front of him stopping, it was a little too late for him to stop,” Ford said the Waste Pro driver said.

Ford said although he has no update on Clemons’ condition, Clemons did not complain of any injuries at the time of the accident.

Ford said Clemons was not cited for any offenses and believes the ordeal was truly a freak accident.

Ford also said the Waste Pro truck contained an unnamed passenger who was taken to Merit Health.

The accident involved a total of four vehicles. After the initial collision, Ford said Pacheco’s vehicle was forced into another car ahead. Ford said the driver, Myron Ollie of Maryland, was also taken to Merit Health after complaining of neck, chest and back pain.

Subsequently, Ford said, Ollie’s car hit an 18-wheel gas tanker driven by Mickey Moulds. Ford said Moulds saw the two cars behind him come to a stop before the Waste Pro truck collided with Pacheco.

Ford could not at this time provide an update on anyone’s condition involved in the accident.