Police and toxicology reports of a Christmas Eve crash on Route 903 in Penn Forest Township that claimed the lives of three people, indicate an Albrightsville man, one of the victims, was under the influence of drugs and alcohol that apparently contributed to the tragedy.

Pronounced dead at the scene of the fiery crash were Joshua M. Dean, 30, of 57 Redwood Drive, Albrightsville; Daejah Z. Dean of 12 Hawk Lane, Jim Thorpe, who would have turned 4 on Dec. 31; and Connor M. Dugan, 17, of 9 Short Road, Jim Thorpe.

State police at the Fern Ridge barracks investigated the head-on crash. The police report indicate the crash was caused by Dean, had alcohol, cocaine and other substances in his system.

Police said Dean’s 2008 BMW crossed over the double yellow line and entered the southbound lane of travel. They said Dugan attempted to avoid a collision with Dean’s speeding car by traveling into the northbound lane, but the BMW traveled back into the northbound lane, resulting in the head-on crash with Dugan’s 2017 Nissan.

When police arrived at the scene, Lehighton EMS personnel, along with members of the Penn Forest Fire Company, were on scene and firefighters were attempting to put out the fire in the BMW, reports show.

The crash occurred at 7:25 p.m. on Christmas Eve, resulting in fire and an explosion where Route 903 intersects with Rhododendron Road in the township.

The three victims were pronounced dead at the scene by Carbon County Chief Deputy Coroner Gerald Jones. Both drivers were transported then to Lehigh Valley Hospital, Salisbury Township, where autopsies were performed on Dec. 27.

Two witnesses who were interviewed by police told troopers they observed the BMW traveling at a high rate of speed, with one witness estimating the car was traveling about 80-90 mph.

Reports also show Dean was driving with a suspended license and there was no registration on the vehicle.

Route 903 was closed to traffic in both directions until about 1:30 a.m. Christmas Day.