MINDEN, La. -- A Haynesville man has died and two others are being treated for serious injuries following an early morning head-on crash on state Highway 531.

Minden Chief of Police Jared McIver identified the victim as Michael Hice, 26.

He was a passenger in a vehicle driven by Slaid Gandy, 23, of Minden. Gandy was taken to a Shreveport hospital, where he was listed in critical condition.

The driver of the second vehicle, Melvin West, 70, of Kilgore, Texas, is also in critical condition in a Shreveport hospital, McIver said.

According to statements taken during the early stages of the investigation, Gandy was traveling north on Highway 531 around 3:15 a.m. when he apparently crossed the center line, running head-on into the southbound F-250 commercial pickup truck driven by West. 

McIver said the accident is still under investigation. 

“We’re taking all the necessary steps to try and determine the cause,” he said.