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Three young men were killed and a fourth was left in critical condition after a Mercedes-Benz crashed into a tree in Irvine before dawn Friday, authorities said.

Police and the Orange County Fire Authority responded about 1:45 a.m. to a crash on Harvard Avenue near University Drive. When officials arrived, they found a vehicle smoldering from what appeared to be a fire as a result of the crash.

The car was wrapped completely around a tree.

Three of the four people inside the vehicle were dead at the scene and the fourth person was transported to the hospital.

The occupants of the car were all young men, and the lone survivor is in critical condition, authorities told KTLA. The car, a red Mercedes-Benz, hit a tree and was obliterated, video of the wreckage showed.

Investigators are looking at speed as a possible factor in the crash, which occurred not far from UC Irvine. A university representative said it was not yet clear if the victims were students.

All northbound and southbound lanes on Harvard Avenue between Michelson and University Drives were closed, but reopened just after 1 p.m., the Police Department said.

Anyone with information about this crash is asked to contact Detective Chris Ostrowski at 949-724-7047 or costrowski @cityofirvine.org.