PONCHATOULA — Three Southeastern Louisiana University students were killed in a single-vehicle crash in Tangipahoa Parish early Monday morning near the on-ramp to I-55 northbound from US 51, according to Louisiana State Police.

The crash occurred around 3:30 a.m. when a 2017 Honda Accord traveling north on US 51 at a high rate of speed allegedly traveled off the roadway to the left and struck a concrete support column of the elevated portion of I-55. 

The driver, a 21-year-old from Hammond, along with a 20-year-old front seat passenger from Slidell and a 19-year-old rear-middle-seat passenger from New Orleans, were killed in the crash. 

The driver, who was properly restrained, and the front seat passenger, who was unrestrained, were pronounced dead at the scene.

The 19-year-old passenger, who was properly restrained, sustained life-threatening injuries from the crash. He was transported to a local hospital, where he later died from his injuries. 

The crash remains under investigation.