Brian Smith II, Tyrell Yates, and Carmelo Riley were students at Southeastern Louisiana University in Hammond. They died together in an early-morning car crash near Ponchatoula, Louisiana, on Monday, September 28, 2026. This page records what officials, their schools, and the university have said. It also lists what is not yet public, including funeral plans and the cause of the crash.
Latest Update: September 30, 2026
As of September 30, 2026, the crash remains under investigation by Louisiana State Police. I found no funeral, visitation, or memorial announcement for any of the three young men in the reports I reviewed. Southeastern Louisiana University is offering grief counseling to students. Please check with the families, the funeral homes, or the university for service details, since I cannot confirm them.
What Happened
The crash happened around 3:30 a.m. on Monday, September 28, 2026, on the ramp from U.S. Highway 51 to northbound I-55 near Ponchatoula in Tangipahoa Parish. State police said a 2017 Honda Accord was traveling at a high rate of speed when it left the road and hit a concrete support column beneath the elevated part of I-55. The reason it left the road is still under investigation.
State police described the victims as a 21-year-old man from Hammond who was driving, a 20-year-old man from Slidell in the front passenger seat, and a 19-year-old man from New Orleans in the rear seat. The driver and front passenger died at the scene. One report says the rear passenger was taken to a hospital and later died. The Tangipahoa Parish Coroner’s Office identified the three men. The sources I found do not say which name goes with which age or seat, so I am not matching them. One report gave the date as September 29, while most, including state police details, say September 28.
Who They Were
Tyrell Yates
Yates graduated from Northshore High School in Slidell in 2023, where he was crowned homecoming king and played basketball. He was a 6-foot-4 guard who committed to Southeastern’s men’s basketball program in May 2023, according to a Slidell news report, and WBRZ describes him as a former Southeastern basketball player. Northshore principal Bill Gallagher remembered him as a standout student-athlete admired on and off the court. Friends posted the hashtag #LongLiveTyrell.
Brian Smith II
Smith graduated from Northshore High School in 2024. Gallagher said he was not originally from Louisiana but made the school and area his own. He became close friends with Yates. The principal described him as caring, genuine, and real.
Carmelo Riley
Riley, known to friends as “Melo,” graduated from Belle Chasse High School in 2025, according to the Plaquemines Parish School Board. He had just finished his first year of college.
Family and Funeral Information
Their parents, siblings, and other relatives have not been named in the reports I reviewed, and I am not naming private family members. Birth dates, hometown details for each man, and service plans have not been published in the sources I checked. If a family or funeral home publishes an obituary, that notice will be the most accurate source for those details.
Statements From the Schools
Southeastern president William Wainwright called each student a “beloved and valued member of the Southeastern Family.” He asked the campus to keep the families and everyone who loved the students in their thoughts. Northshore High School is also grieving, and Gallagher said the school community is supporting one another.
Quick Table
| Name | High school | Known details |
|---|---|---|
| Tyrell Yates | Northshore High School, Class of 2023 | Homecoming king; guard; former Southeastern basketball player |
| Brian Smith II | Northshore High School, Class of 2024 | Close friend of Yates; not originally from Louisiana |
| Carmelo “Melo” Riley | Belle Chasse High School, Class of 2025 | Recent graduate; Southeastern student |
| Date of crash | September 28, 2026, about 3:30 a.m. |
|---|---|
| Location | U.S. 51 to I-55 northbound ramp, near Ponchatoula, Tangipahoa Parish, Louisiana |
| Ages | 19, 20, and 21 (not matched to names) |
| Investigating agency | Louisiana State Police |
| Cause | Under investigation; high speed reported |
| Services | Not found in reports reviewed |
Reader Questions
Who were Brian Smith II, Tyrell Yates, and Carmelo Riley?
They were three Southeastern Louisiana University students who died in a car crash near Ponchatoula on September 28, 2026. Smith and Yates were Northshore High School graduates, and Riley graduated from Belle Chasse High School.
What happened in the Ponchatoula crash?
State police said a car traveling at a high rate of speed left U.S. 51 and hit a concrete support column beneath I-55 at about 3:30 a.m. on September 28, 2026. The cause is under investigation.
How old were the students?
State police said the victims were 19, 20, and 21 years old. The reports I found do not say which age belongs to which student.
Was Tyrell Yates a basketball player?
Yes. He played basketball at Northshore High School and was connected to Southeastern’s men’s basketball program. WBRZ calls him a former Southeastern player.
Have funeral arrangements been announced?
I found no funeral or memorial announcement as of September 30, 2026. Check with the families, funeral homes, or the university.
Is there counseling for students?
Yes. Southeastern Louisiana University said counseling is available to students and encouraged them to seek support.
Wrap-Up
Three young men in their early twenties or younger died together, and two school communities are mourning them. Their principals and university leaders describe caring people who were well-liked. That description is what the public record can offer, since their families have not shared more.
The investigation may add details about the cause of the crash. Until state police release more, it is best not to assume anything beyond what has been reported. As of September 30, 2026, the three students are deceased, the crash is under investigation, and no service details have been confirmed.
Disclaimer
This article is based on public news reports and statements checked on September 30, 2026. Details may change as the investigation continues, and information about the victims comes only from what schools and officials have released. If you are grieving, please reach out to family, friends, campus counseling, or a local support service.
