Three people died in a car fire in Fort Collins early Thursday morning after their car hit a broken-down truck parked on the shoulder, according to Fort Collins Police Services.

A Larimer County sheriff’s deputy about 2:27 a.m. found a 2013 Volkswagon Jetta on fire in the middle of the road in the 5800 block of South Taft Hill Road in southern Fort Collins, according to a Fort Collins Police Services news release. The deputy could see two people who appeared to be dead in the Jetta.

Poudre Fire Authority responded to put out the fire, and responding Fort Collins police officers could see a third dead person in the backseat of the Jetta.

“This is an extremely tragic incident, one that certainly will have a profound impact on both the families of those involved, but also the community,” Fort Collins Police Chief Jeff Swoboda said in the news release. “Our team of investigators will do everything they can to try and find answers for the families, but in the meantime, we will be there to support them however we can.”

Officers determined the Jetta was driving south on Taft Hill Road when the driver drifted onto the shoulder and hit a 2009 Chevrolet Silverado 3500 parked on the side of the road after it broke down, according to the news release.

No one was inside the Silverado at the time of the crash.

Taft Hill Road was closed in the area for about eight hours while investigators processed the scene.

The Larimer County Coroner’s Office will identify the three people.

Anyone with information who has not already spoken to police can contact Officer Matt Brede at 970-221-6842.

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