The helicopter is leaving the scene of the accident to transport the surviving victim to a South Bend hospital

One person is dead and another is in critical condition after a crash on U.S. 31 south in St. Joseph County early Friday morning.

Crews were originally dispatched to U.S. 31 and Quinn Trail in Lakeville around midnight for reports of debris in the roadway. On their way to the scene, though, another call came in about a van seen in the ditch.

When police arrived, they found two people had been thrown from the vehicle—one was dead, the other seriously injured. But it's what they discovered inside the vehicle that they say may have contributed to the crash.

"We have some open containers of alcohol so we believe right now alcohol may have been a factor in the crash so what we're doing is having the FACT team come out, investigate further,” said Sgt. William Redman of the St. Joseph County police.

Police say the van hit the guardrail and wound up in the ditch. Both victims are male, but police haven't released their names. The vehicle is registered to a company out of Ohio, which police are investigating.

U.S. 31 is currently restricted to one lane in each direction. It’s unknown when all four lanes will reopen.