MADISONVILLE, La. — Two teenagers were killed and two more were injured in a single-car crash on Guste Island Road near Madisonville early Wednesday morning.
According to the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff's Office, the accident happened just after midnight on the rural Northshore road south of Highway 22, near the Tchefuncte River.
Traffic investigators said the car was driving at an excessive speed and ran off the roadway, striking two trees, a utility box and two signs.
The sheriff's office confirmed to WWL-TV that four 16-year-old girls were in the car at the time of the crash.
Two of the passengers died at the scene, according to sheriff's officials. The driver and surviving passenger were taken to the hospital with unspecified injuries.
WWL-TV confirmed that one of the surviving victims was listed in critical condition as of noon Wednesday.
Because of their ages and because next of kin had not been notified for the two fatalities, the sheriff's office declined to identify any of the teens.
“My heartfelt prayers go out to all of the families involved,” Sheriff Randy Smith said in a statement. “While it is always a tragedy when young lives are lost, it is especially challenging to have something like this happen in our community just days away from the start of the new school year.
The cause of the crash is still under investigation, and no other information has been made available.