Hamden police are investigating the crash that killed three people early Sunday morning.
A preliminary investigation has revealed that the vehicle was coming off the Route 40 connector at a high rate of speed around 2:30 a.m. on Sunday when it went across four lanes of Whitney Avenue and then hit the tree.
Police said the driver and the front seat passenger seat had to be extricated from the vehicle and all three people who were inside the vehicle were pronounced dead at the scene.
They have been identified as 21-year-old Monroe resident Maksims Frolovs, 26-year-old Bridgeport resident Edmonds Mihalenkos, and 29-year-old Bridgeport resident Hiadlas DeOliveira.
Officers said it was difficult to identify them because of the severity of the crash. Their bodies have been transported to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner so autopsies could be performed and the autopsies revealed all three victims died from blunt injuries.
"Based on the crush damage to the vehicle and based on the injuries to the occupants we believe speed was excessive," said Hamden Police Chief Thomas Wydra.
Anyone with any information about the crash is asked to contact Officer Kevin Hall at (203) 230-4036.
