WASHINGTON (DC News Now) — The U.S. Park Police said three people died after a crash that involved two cars on Rock Creek Parkway in Northwest D.C. According to Department of Motor Vehicle (DMV) records, one of the cars involved had over $12,000 in unpaid traffic citations.

The incident started around 1:32 a.m. when police attempted to stop a Lexus on Rock Creek Parkway south of Virginia Avenue. U.S. Park Police said that the car drove away from the stop around 1:35 a.m.

DMV records said that this car had more than 40 citations totaling $12,300 in unpaid traffic fines in D.C. starting in March of 2022. All but one of these citations were for speeding.

Officers then received a call regarding a crash on Rock Creek Parkway in the area of P Street at 1:41 a.m. Police said that the wreck happened between the Lexus in the earlier traffic stop and a Honda Sedan.

Three men who were in the Honda were all pronounced dead on the scene. One man and one woman in the Lexus were taken to the hospital.

The man had non-life-threatening injuries. The woman was taken to the hospital with injuries that were initially non-life-threatening, but while she was in the hospital, her condition worsened and her injuries were considered life-threatening.

All southbound traffic was diverted at Shorham Hill towards Calvert Street NW. The entrance at Massachusetts Avenue NW was closed. Northbound traffic was diverted at Virginia Avenue.

By 11:43 a.m., Rock Creek Parkway had reopened to traffic.