Police Believe Alcohol, Speed A Factor In SUV Crash That Killed 3

DENVER (CBS4) - Three people are dead after an SUV crashed into a tree early Sunday morning. Police believe alcohol may be involved.

The crash happened at the intersection of Perry and Bayaud. A fourth passenger survived, but is in critical condition at Denver Health Medical Center.

Two of the people killed have been identified as Hector Astorga and Anotnio Gonzales. The third is a female whose name hasn't been released. The name of the hospitalized passenger also hasn't been released.

Police believe the SUV may have been going more than 80 miles per hour before the accident.

"Until that smoke dissipated we didn't know it was a vehicle," neighbor Cheryl Limon said.

Limon heard the crash and called 911. She ran to the accident scene and saw a man in his 20s falling in and out of consciousness. She then found the driver, who died on impact.

"It was horrific. Your brain just doesn't have a file for that," Limon said.

"It was a loud squeal, acceleration, and then a loud boom," witness Aaron Martinez said.

"The force that they hit the tree; I don't even think they hit their brakes," witness Jesse Martinez said.

When emergency crews moved the crash they found the third and fourth passengers.

As word of the accident spread, friends and family members came to pay their respects. Hours later Limon learned one of the victims was a classmate of her nephew.

"They're really at a loss. They're trying to register it all," she said.