BECKLEY, W.Va. (WVVA) - Two men were killed in a tractor-trailer crash on I-64 on Sandstone Mountain near Shady Spring early Wednesday morning.

The tractor trailer ran off the roadway, through the guardrail and plummeted down a steep embankment coming to rest at the bottom of a hillside on Sandstone Mountain.

Raliegh County Sheriff’s Office Sgt. William Ramsey responded to the scene and found two occupants trapped inside with no signs of life. The driver, Macdiel R. Labrada, 33 of Louisville, Kentucky and Daikel C. Perdomo, 41 were both declared deceased at the scene.

Speed is believed to have been a factor in the crash as well as a possible failure of the braking system due to the steep grade of Sandstone Mountain.

Units from Beaver and Ghent Fire Departments were on the scene for extrication and heavy wreckers were needed for recovery efforts.

The crash investigation is being handled by Deputy William Sneddon and he is being assisted by Sergeant Justin Wills of the West Virginia Public Service Commission – Motor Carrier Division.

Sheriff Frank Priddy and Chief Deputy Mike Shelton reminded drivers of the dangers of exceeding the posted speed limits.