Los Angeles, CA : Three people dead, 1 critically injured after car slams into tree in Venice area on Monday evening, December 28, 2015

A car struck a tree and flipped over Monday evening in the Venice-Marina del Rey area, killing three of the occupants and leaving a fourth person in critical condition, officials said.

The crash occurred shortly before 6 p.m. Two people were ejected from the car by the force of the crash, Los Angeles Fire Department spokesman Erik Scott said.

One of those ejected survived and was taken to a hospital in critical condition. The other person died.

Firefighters are continuing to try to free two bodies trapped in the wreckage. Authorities said the dead are a man and woman, both believed to be 20 to 25 years old, and another man, 18 to 25 years old.

California Highway Patrol investigators are examining the crash scene but say they don't know the cause.

Source :

Three people killed and one hurt as car strikes tree in Venice area