PONCHATOULA — An early Monday morning crash left three Southeastern Louisiana University students dead. a vigil is planned for Thursday to honor the students.
Louisiana State Troopers responded to a single-vehicle crash around 3:30 a.m. on Sept. 28. The crash happened on the on-ramp to I-55 northbound from U.S. Highway 51. Inside the vehicle were three young adult males.
The men, who have all been identified as students at Southeastern Louisiana University, all died as a result of the crash. The driver, who was wearing his seatbelt, died at the scene. The front-seat passenger, who was not wearing a seatbelt, also died at the scene. The rear passenger, who was properly restrained, had life-threatening injuries and was transported to a local hospital, where he later died, officials reported.
The three were identified as Carmelo Riley, Brian Smith II, and Tyrell Yates, all students. A vigil is planned Thursday, Oct. 1 at 6:30 p.m. in Cate Street Park, UWK has learned.
A preliminary investigation by troopers revealed that a 2017 Honda Accord was going north on U.S. Hwy. 51 at a high rate of speed. For reasons still under investigation, the car veered off the road to the left and struck a concrete support column of the elevated portion of I-55, LSP says.
As part of the ongoing investigation, routine toxicology samples were collected for analysis. This crash remains under investigation.
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