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Police: Speed factor in triple fatal crash that blocked Steele Creek Road

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Charlotte-Mecklenburg police said speed was a factor in a crash that left three dead and closed part of a major road in Steele Creek Saturday morning.

Around 2:20 a.m. in the 8300 block of Steele Creek Road, a blue 2001 Ford Crown Victoria ran off the right side of the road, went airborne and slammed into several trees.

The front seat passenger, Jason Lee, 34, was thrown from the car and pronounced dead at the scene. The back seat passenger, Alphonso Christian, 38, also died at the scene.

MEDIC took the driver, Tyrell Paige, 29, to Carolinas Medical Center, where he later died.

No one in the car was wearing a seat belt, police said.

Steele Creek Road was shut down from Shopton Road to Snow Ridge Lane for hours.

The three worked at the Outback Steakhouse on Pineville-Matthews Road, a manager confirmed.