Utica man dies in I-20 crash Tuesday morning

A Utica man lost his life Tuesday morning in a single vehicle crash on Interstate 20.

The Mississippi Highway Patrol was on the scene around 7:15 a.m. on I-20 near Edwards in Hinds County.

Preliminary reports indicate that a 2009 Infiniti G37 passenger car was traveling westbound on I-20 near Edwards when the driver lost control and collided into the guardrail on the westbound shoulder.

The driver, who was the only occupant in the vehicle, was identified as Robert L. Barnes Jr., 23, of Utica. He died because of injuries sustained in the accident.

Barnes was not wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash.

MHP believes speed and weather conditions contributed to the crash.