(CAMERON)  A Robertson County Man was killed today east of Gause in a head on collision involving a pickup and an 18 wheeler.  Pronounced dead at the scene was 19 year old Thomas Sanders of New Baden.  Sanders was killed instantly when his pickup and an 18 wheeler met head on in the westbound lane of Highway 79.  According to Investigating Trooper Michael Nix, Sanders was westbound on 79 and a tractor trailer rig driven by Charles Bozeman 48 of Brandon, Mississippi, was headed east.  Bozeman said the pickup drifted into the eastbound lane, and he took evasive action into the westbound lane, however at the last second, the pickup pulled back into the westbound lane where the two vehicles met head on.  Justice of the Peace Twila Harris conducted the inquest at the scene. Trooper Nix was assisted by troopers Ernest Del Bosque and Don Wardlow.   The accident happened around  2:30 this afternoon.   The body was taken to Heartfield Funeral Home in Hearne.

The TNRCC was also called to the scene when the 18 wheeler's fuel tank ruptured spilling most of the diesel from one of the tanks.