Three people have been killed and one severely injured following a multi-vehicle crash in Nueva Ecija province, north of Manila, police said Tuesday.

Police said the accident happened on Monday after an Asian utility vehicle hit the rear of the tricycle carrying the three victims, causing it to lose control and collide with an oncoming tanker truck along a highway in Cabanatuan City in Central Luzon.

The three victims, including the tricycle driver, were rushed to a local hospital, where they were pronounced dead. The fourth passenger was injured and was still recuperating in a local hospital.

Police said the drivers of the utility vehicle and the truck were detained.