A Columbus man was killed Wednesday when a city street sweeper and an 18-wheeler collided on Industrial Park Road, according to Lowndes County authorities. The victim, identified as Leslie Brent Williamson, was pronounced dead after the roughly 3 p.m. wreck. The Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the crash.
According to the Commercial Dispatch, the semi was hauling scrap metal to the Steel Dynamics plant when it struck the street sweeper at about 3 p.m. County deputies responded to the scene, which was cleared later in the afternoon. Sheriff Eddie Hawkins issued a brief statement offering condolences to Williamson’s family and urging drivers to use extra caution in the area.
Industrial Park Road’s heavy-truck traffic
Industrial Park Road serves as a busy corridor for 18-wheelers hauling scrap to the nearby Steel Dynamics mill, a steady stream of truck traffic that county leaders have been flagging as a safety concern in recent years. As reported by WCBI, Lowndes County supervisors have floated expanding rail service to the industrial park as one way to cut down on truck trips and the metal debris they can leave behind. Residents and officials say crews sometimes run magnets along the corridor to pick up stray metal fragments that can puncture tires and damage vehicles.
Past spills and cleanup efforts
Local media have documented earlier cases where scrap loads either spilled or were dumped, forcing temporary road closures and cleanup jobs. WDAM reported in June 2025 that an 18-wheeler dumped scrap on a Jones County road, leading to a cleanup operation and a temporary closure while crews cleared the debris. Those kinds of incidents have helped fuel ongoing conversations among county officials, the port and the steel mill about safer hauling practices and possible infrastructure fixes aimed at reducing risk.
The Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office said the investigation into Wednesday’s fatal collision is ongoing and has not released additional information about the truck driver or any potential charges. In a press release cited by the Commercial Dispatch, Sheriff Hawkins extended his sympathies to the Williamson family and again urged motorists to take extra care on Industrial Park Road. Anyone with information about the crash is asked to contact the sheriff’s office.
