PERU — Three people have died following a two-vehicle crash on a central Indiana road.

The crash occurred shortly before noon Friday near Peru, about 80 miles (128 kilometers) north of Indianapolis.

A preliminary investigation by Indiana state police revealed that an SUV driven by Douglas Clinkenbeard, 53, of Elwood traveled across the center line of State Road 19 and struck another SUV driven by Nicholas Miller, 31, of Peru.

Clinkenbeard was not wearing a seat belt and was ejected from his vehicle. Clinkenbeard, Miller and Miller’s 18-year-old passenger, Paige Williamson of Peru, were pronounced dead at the scene of the crash.

Excessive speed by Clinkenbeard’s vehicle appears to have contributed to the crash, police said.