MIDDLETOWN, N.J. — Police say an SUV carrying 7 people on a New Jersey parkway smashed into a guardrail and overturned twice, killing three people and critically injuring four others.

The crash occurred just after 5 a.m. Monday on the Garden State Parkway near Middletown Township.

State police spokesman Sgt. Julian Castellanos says the driver lost control of his Ford Expedition and struck the guardrail. The SUV then overturned at least twice, ejecting five people from the backseat.

Three men were pronounced dead shortly after the crash. Three other passengers and the driver were taken to Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune. They were listed in critical condition late Monday morning.

The crash is under investigation.