AMITE -- A man fleeing pursuing police died when his pickup ran off a bridge and crashed to the ground below early Tuesday.

Tangipahoa Sheriff Daniel Edwards said deputies observed a pickup driving erratically on La. 40 about 1:40 a.m.

The driver, later identified as Sean Michael McQueen, 23, of Mississippi continued to pull away from the pursuit at a high rate of speed. Deputies could not keep up and were unable to read the vehicle license plate.

At one point the driver turned off his headlights and continued traveling at speeds of 70 mph on Crossover Road. Deputies slowed their vehicles down around the curves in the road near the bridge just east of George Rd. Upon reaching the bridge, deputies saw no signs of the vehicle.

Additional units arrived to aid in the search of the vehicle. Within moments, deputies observed lights coming from underneath the bridge. After further investigation, it was revealed that the driver and sole occupant of the vehicle crashed and lost his life as a result of the incident.