Abbeville, Louisiana — Two men lost their lives late Friday, May 30, after a single-vehicle crash on Louisiana Highway 14 near Fore Road, according to Louisiana State Police Troop I. The incident, which occurred shortly after 11 p.m., is currently under investigation.

The preliminary report from state police indicates that 69-year-old Brian Mayard of Abbeville, Louisiana, was driving a 2018 Chevrolet Corvette westbound at a reportedly high rate of speed. For reasons still under investigation, the vehicle veered off the right side of the roadway, entered a ditch, and struck a culvert. The impact caused the car to overturn.

Both Mayard and his passenger, 45-year-old Guy McNeil of Youngsville, Louisiana, were not wearing seat belts at the time of the crash. Authorities say both men sustained fatal injuries and were pronounced dead at the scene.

Investigators collected standard toxicology samples from Mayard, which have been submitted for analysis to determine if impairment played a role in the incident. Results are pending, and the investigation remains ongoing.

Louisiana State Police continue to urge drivers and passengers to always wear seat belts, as restraint use is one of the most effective ways to prevent serious injury or death in vehicle crashes. The agency also reminds the public that speed and impairment are major contributing factors in many roadway fatalities across the state.