PEARL RIVER, La. — A Pearl River High School senior died in a car crash hours before his graduation ceremony on Saturday morning.

State police identified the student as 18-year-old Helgin Guerra Flores of Slidell.

The fatal crash happened around 3 a.m. on Hwy 190 near Cross Creek Drive in St. Tammany Parish. Guerra Flores was driving northbound when he hit a bridge guardrail and overturned. He was not wearing a seatbelt, according to police.

"Helgin was a standout soccer player, always smiling, and was supposed to graduate today," the department said in a Facebook post. "Please keep Helgin’s family and friends, the students and faculty, and our community in your prayers."

He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Chief Sessions, Sgt. Alquist, and our entire department send our deepest sympathies and prayers to the family and...

“The school system is devastated by the loss of Helgin Guerra Flores. Helgin worked extremely hard to be eligible for graduation. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the Flores family and the entire Pearl River learning community.”