IBERIA PARISH - State Police say a crash involving three vehicles on LA 14 west of US 190 took the lives of two motorcyclists from Abbeville Wednesday night.

Troopers said the crash happened just after 6 p.m. as 29-year-old Ernest Comesana Jr., of Crowley, was driving an 18-wheeler east on LA 14. As Comesana began to make a left turn to cross over in order to head westbound on LA 14, a pair of Suzuki motorcycles was traveling west on LA 14 approaching the crossover.

The two sport bikes, operated by 45-year-old Jones Mitchell and 25-year-old Gerald Mitchell from Abbeville, couldn’t avoid hitting the big rig as it entered their lane of travel.

Comesana was wearing a seatbelt at the time of the crash and was not injured. Jones and Mitchell were wearing DOT approved helmets, but they suffered fatal injuries in the crash. They were pronounced dead on the scene by the Iberia Parish Coroner’s Office.

Impairment is not suspected to be a factor in the crash, according to LSP. Comesana voluntarily submitted a chemical breath test that indicated he was not impaired at the time of the crash. Toxicology samples were taken from the motorcyclists by the parish coroner’s office for analysis at the Louisiana State Police Crime Lab.

The crash remains under investigation with charges forthcoming following review by the Iberia Parish District Attorney’s Office.