Police also said that no other car was involved in the crash that killed a 19-year-old from Brownsville, the 27-year-old Oak Flats driver and a 24-year-old from Farmborough Heights, whose identities are yet to be confirmed by police. The accident also left a 21-year-old Dapto man with third degree burns to 50 per cent of his body. He remains in a serious but stable condition at Royal North Shore Hospital.

``The crash investigators have determined that it was likely the vehicle was travelling in excess of the speed limit so speed is a factor in the collision, but at this time we cannot release our estimated speed of the car,'' said acting Inspector Mark Walker of Lake Illawarra police.

``It was just the one car as best we know.''

Skid marks on the road show how the green 2000 model Holden Commodore sedan fishtailed and then travelled sideways before hitting the kerb where it became airborne and slammed into a telegraph pole. It turned 180 degrees and came to rest upon a gas main, before exploding. Insp Walker said the car was ``incinerated'' and praised the heroics of a passing motorist who helped the 21-year-old Dapto man from the burning vehicle.

``We understand that a male passerby, another motorist has stopped and helped out one of the passengers which has quite possibly saved that person's life,'' Insp Walker said.

``He was unable to get the other people out due to the flames and two people have died in the car and the third person was ejected just prior to the fire and he has died as well.''

Insp Walker said police officers who attended the scene last night has been offered counselling with the police chaplain.