BACOLOD CITY ? A black Honda Civic speeding down Araneta Street in Bacolod City ended in a deadly crash in front of the Shell Station between Lizares and Quezon avenues at 1 a.m. Monday.

Three of its passengers were killed and two were injured, PO2 Regino Rex Eduardo of the Bacolod traffic police said.

Witnesses said the vehicle was traveling at high speed when it hit the cement and steel posts of the office of a car dealer, Tohonka Motors, flipped on impact and landed upside down in a crumpled heap.

Four passengers were flung several meters away from the vehicle while the driver was trapped inside the vehicle.

Eduardo identified the fatalities as Hernani Nemes Jr., the driver of the vehicle, Lorenie Pastor Chavez and Peter V. Sasutana and the injured as Mark John Lozada, 22, and Joselito Descarten, 23.

Blood and broken car parts were scattered all over the place.

Initial reports said the passengers had been drinking liquor before the incident but the police said they have yet to verify this information.