ALBANY, Ga. – An attempted traffic stop in Albany ended in tragedy early Sunday morning, leaving three passengers dead and the driver injured in the hospital, according to officials.

The incident began at 1:05 a.m. Oct. 27 when Georgia State Patrol troopers attempted to stop a white Mercedes-Benz sedan traveling 75 mph in a 40 mph zone on Dawson Road. As troopers moved in to initiate the stop, the vehicle veered onto Magnolia Street, prompting troopers to activate their emergency lights and sirens.

Instead of stopping, the driver allegedly sped south on Magnolia Street, driving recklessly and speeding over a set of railroad tracks at high speed. The car went airborne and then crashed.

The police who arrived at the scene of the accident found the driver still in the vehicle with injuries to his head and face. After questioning the driver, officers found three male passengers who had been ejected from the vehicle. All three were pronounced dead at the scene.

The driver was transported to a local hospital for treatment. The Georgia State Patrol’s Specialized Collision Reconstruction Team is investigating the crash.