William Rodman
William Rodman, 34, was being held in the closed rear compartment of a prison transport van when it crashed on westbound Interstate 10 near Ocean Springs in Jackson County, Mississippi, on February 18, 2026. The van collided with a utility vehicle, left the road, struck a pole and caught fire, and the driver, Michael Valera, also died while others were seriously injured. Witnesses said responders had to cut a hole in the side of the van to reach the people inside. The Jackson County Coroner said Rodman died of blunt force trauma and also suffered burns, and the manner of death has not been publicly stated, with full autopsy results expected within weeks. The Mississippi Highway Patrol says the crash is still under investigation.
Cause of death, as reported: Died in an accident. The Mississippi Highway Patrol says the prison transport van crashed on Interstate 10 and is still investigating, and the Jackson County Coroner said he died of blunt force trauma and burns.
Reported by: Jackson County Coroner (medical examiner or coroner); Mississippi Highway Patrol (outside investigators).
News reports (7)
- NEW DETAILS: Officer, prisoner killed, 3 others seriously injured following prisoner transport van crash on I-10
- Dashcam footage shows deadly wreck involving prisoner transport van on I-10
- Prisoner, officer identified after crash on I-10 in Jackson County
- ‘The sound was horrible’: Dashcam witness speaks out about deadly Mississippi prisoner van crash
- Dash camera footage shows deadly crash involving prisoner transport van on interstate
- Prison guard fighting for life after I-10 transport van crash in Mississippi
- Third death confirmed in Mississippi prison transport van crash on I-10