Authorities say three people are dead and one is critically injured after a fiery evening crash outside the southwestern Illinois city of Granite City.

Madison County sheriff's spokesman Mike Dixon says authorities received a 911 call about the crash around 11:45 p.m. Saturday. Authorities found a vehicle engulfed in flames.

Three people died at the scene. They were identified as 19-year-old Samantha Cook and 23-year-old Christopher Green, both of Madison, and 18-year-old Brittany Ritchie of Mitchell.

Dixon says the driver of the vehicle was taken to a St. Louis hospital where he was listed in critical condition.

Madison County Coroner Stephen Nonn says the vehicle struck a concrete pillar and the occupants were ejected from the vehicle.

He says the passengers died of blunt traumatic injuries. Toxicology tests are pending.