Three people were killed Wednesday afternoon following a violent two-vehicle, head-on collision on State Route 116, according to a preliminary report from the Tennessee Highway Patrol.

The crash occurred shortly after 1:00 p.m. on State Route 116 (Briceville Highway). Officials report that a car traveling northbound, driven by Rocky Bailey, crossed the center line and struck an oncoming SUV driven by Tonya Craig.

The impact caused Bailey’s vehicle to flip onto its roof on the west side of the road, where it became fully engulfed in flames.

Authorities arriving at the scene confirmed that both drivers, Bailey and Craig, along with a passenger in Bailey’s vehicle, Jack Ramsey, died from their injuries.

State Route 116 was closed for approximately nine hours while emergency crews cleared the wreckage and investigators worked at the scene. The highway fully reopened late Wednesday night.

The Tennessee Highway Patrol is continuing to investigate the cause of the crash. No further details have been released at this time.