The Mississippi Highway Patrol is investigating a three vehicle accident involving a cruiser taken from the Oakland Police Department in Yalobusha County.

41 year old Gregory Smith of Oakland was killed after the cruiser collided with an 18-wheeler and a van on Highway 32 just outside of Charleston in Tallahatchie County. 

Smith was apparently working off a fine with the department when the vehicle was taken.

A highway patrol spokesperson tells WTVA.com the cruiser was traveling west on Highway 32 when it struck the rear of an 18-wheeler driven by James Mitchell of Grenada.  He was not injured.

The cruiser then slid into the path of a van driven by 45 year old Willie Rounds of Grenada and the vehicles hit head-on.

Rounds was airlifted to the MED in Memphis.

An accident reconstructionist from the Mississippi Highway Patrol is expected to visit the scene over the next two days.